Microzooplankton grazing in the gulf of california

Abstract

Microzooplankton (organisms 0.05). Based on the grazing rates we estimated that the microzooplankton can consume about 89%, 106%, and 100% of the potential primary production during spring, summer, and autumn, respectively. Our results suggest that in Guaymas Basin there are two seasons in the year: spring, when a small fraction of the nanophytoplankton is not removed and may be exported to the bottom of the ocean; and summer/autumn, when nanophytoplankton biomass is totally consumed in the pelagic system.

Keywords

• Gulf of California
• microzooplankton
• grazing