Estimated Carbon Flux of Argyropelecus aculeatus within the Gulf of Mexico
Location
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Start
2-13-2025 4:15 PM
End
2-13-2025 4:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Human impacts have led to increased levels of anthropogenic carbon within the atmosphere and the world’s oceans. The Biological Carbon Pump (BCP) plays a key role in reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere by aiding in the export of carbon. This occurs when carbon exchange between the atmosphere and the upper ocean takes place, and the carbon is then transferred down into the deep sea. A possible key component in this process are mesopelagic fishes, that include any fish residing within the mesopelagic zone (200 – 1,000 m during the day). A common trait amongst most mesopelagic fishes is diel vertical migration (DVM) behavior. One such mesopelagic fish that can participate in DVM is the family Sternoptychidae (hatchetfish). This study will focus on the hatchetfish species Argyropelecus aculeatus and create individual-based carbon flux models to analyze the daily activities of A. aculeatus. The models will be used to estimate the carbon flux of these fishes examining their potential contributions as migrators and non-migrators to the BCP within the Gulf of Mexico. The results show that carbon flux estimates for a shallow migrating A. aculeatus has a mean daily carbon flux of 5.64 x 10-1 mg C d-1 (0.311 - 0.980 mg C d-1). Deep migrating A. aculeatus have a mean daily carbon flux of 6.41 x 10-1 mg C d-1 (0.332 – 1.17 mg C d-1). Non-migrating A. aculeatus have a mean daily carbon flux estimate of 0.218 mg C d-1 (0.102 – .341mg C d-1). The mortality carbon flux pathway and the respiration carbon flux pathway are the greatest contributors to a total 24-hr carbon flux estimations for both migrating A. aculeatus and non-migrating A. aculeatus. Estimated results from this study provide a better understanding of how an A. aculeatus contributes to carbon flux within the Gulf of Mexico and their role within the oceanic BCP.
Estimated Carbon Flux of Argyropelecus aculeatus within the Gulf of Mexico
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Human impacts have led to increased levels of anthropogenic carbon within the atmosphere and the world’s oceans. The Biological Carbon Pump (BCP) plays a key role in reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere by aiding in the export of carbon. This occurs when carbon exchange between the atmosphere and the upper ocean takes place, and the carbon is then transferred down into the deep sea. A possible key component in this process are mesopelagic fishes, that include any fish residing within the mesopelagic zone (200 – 1,000 m during the day). A common trait amongst most mesopelagic fishes is diel vertical migration (DVM) behavior. One such mesopelagic fish that can participate in DVM is the family Sternoptychidae (hatchetfish). This study will focus on the hatchetfish species Argyropelecus aculeatus and create individual-based carbon flux models to analyze the daily activities of A. aculeatus. The models will be used to estimate the carbon flux of these fishes examining their potential contributions as migrators and non-migrators to the BCP within the Gulf of Mexico. The results show that carbon flux estimates for a shallow migrating A. aculeatus has a mean daily carbon flux of 5.64 x 10-1 mg C d-1 (0.311 - 0.980 mg C d-1). Deep migrating A. aculeatus have a mean daily carbon flux of 6.41 x 10-1 mg C d-1 (0.332 – 1.17 mg C d-1). Non-migrating A. aculeatus have a mean daily carbon flux estimate of 0.218 mg C d-1 (0.102 – .341mg C d-1). The mortality carbon flux pathway and the respiration carbon flux pathway are the greatest contributors to a total 24-hr carbon flux estimations for both migrating A. aculeatus and non-migrating A. aculeatus. Estimated results from this study provide a better understanding of how an A. aculeatus contributes to carbon flux within the Gulf of Mexico and their role within the oceanic BCP.