Zooplankton impact on the organic matter flux of Siberian Arctic seas

Abstract

Role of zooplankton in the organic matter flux was studied in the Kara and Laptev seas using sediment traps in the course of voyage 63 of the Academician Mstislav Keldysh research vessel in August–October 2015. The values of the total flux and that of organic matter were at least an order of magnitude higher than those obtained before the 2000s. A hypothesis is proposed on an increasing influence of the river runoff on the Kara Sea area under climatic changes. Zooplankton contribution into C_org flux varied broadly, averaging 50%. The highest flux values and contribution of zooplankton in them (up to 96%) were recorded in the frontal (gradient) zones.