Objective Little is currently known about the mechanisms by which zooplankton could find and locate sinking particles in the marine pelagic environment. However this process is believe to be an important pathway in reducing the downward carbon flux in the ocean and could also be an important food supply for zooplankton organisms or fishes larvae. In pelagic Ocean, appendicularians are important producers of large sinking particles through the continuous secretion of mucous filtering structures named “the house”. However some indications that houses disappear during the sedimentation, the processes and rates of this degradation are nearly unknown. Here I propose a research program to investigate the rates and mechanisms of the predation and degradation of appendicularian houses linked with copepods, eels larvae or microbial activity alone. Specifically, I will address the following three objectives, 1) to identify and quantify the predator behaviour to track and find discarded houses in the water column (visual, mechanic or chemical trail perception). 2) Quantify the degradation rate of appendicularian houses in regards to the different predator types. 3) Quantify the growth rates of these predators with an appendicularian houses diet. These objectives will gives information on 1) the particles encountering rate in the field, 2) the reduction of the downward flux of matter in the ocean and 3) the importance of particles in the nutrition of predators and would give new perspectives for the culture of eels for commercial uses. The research will employ an integrated approach combining behavioural studies, cultures, and incubations experiments. Research proposed here will be one of the first attempts to identify and quantify these processes. The proposed research will increase the scientific excellence of the European research through development of a novel research theme at the host laboratory (DIFRES, Denmark) and initiation of international collaboration in the research field. Fields of science social sciencespsychologybehavioural psychologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologysedimentologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions Keywords Natural sciences Natural sciences: marine ecology behavioural ecology car carbon cycle fish nutrition marine ecology zooplankton Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-2-1.IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET EU contribution € 201 356,70 Address ANKER ENGELUNDS VEJ 101 2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Thomas Astrup (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
