The presence of resting stages in deep sea realm has seldom been considered. To estimate the presence of resting stages in deep bottom sediments, 7 sediment cores were collected at depths ranging from 1290 to 4000 m allong a W-E transect in the Mediterranean Sea. Most biogenic sediments were composed by foraminiferan tests and dibophyta cysts. Eleven cyst morphotypes have been recorded (mainly as empty shells) , while no metazoan eggs have been observed. The presence of viable resting stages in deep bottom surface sedimentswas much lower than in neritic areas, suggesting that oceanic species do not produce cysts for a benthic rest strategy. Further taxonomic and biogeographic studies are needed to better understand the ecological dynamics of ocean plankton in the Mediterranean Sea.
Resting stage abundance in the biogenic fraction of surface sediments from the deep mediterranean Sea
DELLA TOMMASA, Luigi;BELMONTE, Genuario;BOERO, Ferdinando
2004-01-01
Abstract
The presence of resting stages in deep sea realm has seldom been considered. To estimate the presence of resting stages in deep bottom sediments, 7 sediment cores were collected at depths ranging from 1290 to 4000 m allong a W-E transect in the Mediterranean Sea. Most biogenic sediments were composed by foraminiferan tests and dibophyta cysts. Eleven cyst morphotypes have been recorded (mainly as empty shells) , while no metazoan eggs have been observed. The presence of viable resting stages in deep bottom surface sedimentswas much lower than in neritic areas, suggesting that oceanic species do not produce cysts for a benthic rest strategy. Further taxonomic and biogeographic studies are needed to better understand the ecological dynamics of ocean plankton in the Mediterranean Sea.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
