title: Large scale patterns in vertical distribution and behaviour of mesopelagic scattering layers.
abstract: Recent studies suggest that previous estimates of mesopelagic biomasses are severely biased, with the new, higher estimates underlining the need to unveil behaviourally mediated coupling between shallow and deep ocean habitats. We analysed vertical distribution and diel vertical migration (DVM) of mesopelagic acoustic scattering layers (SLs) recorded at 38 kHz across oceanographic regimes encountered during the circumglobal Malaspina expedition. Mesopelagic SLs were observed in all areas covered, but vertical distributions and DVM patterns varied markedly. The distribution of mesopelagic backscatter was deepest in the southern Indian Ocean (weighted mean daytime depth: WMD 590 m) and shallowest at the oxygen minimum zone in the eastern Pacific (WMD 350 m). DVM was evident in all areas covered, on average ~50% of mesopelagic backscatter made daily excursions from mesopelagic depths to shallow waters. There were marked differences in migrating proportions between the regions, ranging from ~20% in the Indian Ocean to ~90% in the Eastern Pacific. Overall the data suggest strong spatial gradients in mesopelagic DVM patterns, with implied ecological and biogeochemical consequences. Our results suggest that parts of this spatial variability can be explained by horizontal patterns in physical-chemical properties of water masses, such as oxygen, temperature and turbidity.
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.|Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Klevjer
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Irigoien
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Røstad
authors.affiliation: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, E38180, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fraile-Nuez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, E38180, Spain.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Benítez-Barrios
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.|University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, PO Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaartvedt
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