THE ROLE OF BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN DEEP-SEA FOOD WEBS AND CARBON CYCLING

摘要: Benthic foraminifers are a major element in deep-sea sediment and hard-substrate communities, sometimes accounting for 50% or more of eukaryotic biomass. They feed at low trophic level, consuming mainly planktonic other detritus bacteria. Some species have metabolic adaptations enabling them to respond quickly pulsed detrital inputs with rapid rates reproduction growth. These probably assist microorganisms the breakdown fresh material, while others deposit feeders which convert refractory organic substances into DOM uptake may be important, although no data exist as yet substantiate this. Foraminifers consumed by wide variety organisms, including selective non-selective specialised predators, represent an important link between lower higher levels food webs. A non-trophic interactions metazoans foraminifers, example, provision physical substrates, facilitate access enhanced supplies. Thus, foraminifera playa largely unquantified but potentially significant role carbon cycling