Global ecosystem typology

Alternative site for the Global ecosystem typology with additional information for ecosystem profiles and indicative maps.

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M2.1 Epipelagic ocean waters

Biome: M2. Pelagic ocean waters biome

Contributors:
(texts)

This uppermost ocean layer (0-200m depth) is the most influenced by the atmosphere, and is defined and structured by light availability. Photosynthesis in these ecosystems accounts for half of all global carbon fixation. That productivity supports diverse marine life, including many visual predators, like tuna, that rely on the high light environment. Migration is a common life history trait across all groups: either vertical – rising from the depths to feed at the surface at night to evade daytime predators; or horizontal – between breeding and feeding grounds. Detritus from this zone is an important nutrient source for lower oceanic layers.

Key Features

Uppermost euphotic ocean, where phytoplankton production supports abundant mobile zooplankton, fish, cephalopods, mammals and seabirds.

Overview of distribution

Surface layer of the open ocean.

Profile versions

  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): KE Watermeyer; DA Keith
  • v2.0 (2020-05-27): KE Watermeyer; RR Rykaczewski; IG Priede; TT Sutton; DA Keith
  • v2.01 ():
  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): KE Watermeyer; RR Rykaczewski; IG Priede; TT Sutton; DA Keith Full profile available at official site

Main references

Selected references for this functional group:

  • Sutton TT (2013) Vertical ecology of the pelagic ocean: Classical patterns and new perspectives Journal of Fish Biology 83: 1508‐1527

  • Stal LJ (2016) The euphotic realm The Marine Microbiome (Eds. LJ Stal, MS Cretoiu), pp. 209-225. Springer, Switzerland.

  • Anderson TR, Martin AP, Lampitt RS, Trueman CN, Henson SA, Mayor D J (2019) Quantifying carbon fluxes from primary production to mesopelagic fish using a simple food web model ICES Journal of Marine Science 76, 690–701

Diagrammatic assembly model

Diagrammatic assembly model of M2.1 Epipelagic ocean waters. See general notes on diagrams. Open image full size.

Maps

Maps are indicative of global distribution patterns are not intended to represent fine-scale patterns. The maps show areas of the world containing major (coloured red) or minor occurrences (coloured yellow) of each ecosystem functional group. See general notes on maps.

There are 2 alternative versions of the indicative map for this functional group, please compare description and sources below.

M2.1.IM.orig_v2.1

Datasets

  • SRTM30-PLUS-V11

Map references

  • Becker JJ, Sandwell DT, Smith WHF, Braud J, Binder B, Depner J, Fabre D, Factor J, Ingalls S, Kim S-H, Ladner R, Marks K, Nelson S, Pharaoh A, Trimmer R, Von Rosenberg J, Wallace G, Weatherall P (2009) Global Bathymetry and Elevation Data at 30 Arc Seconds Resolution: SRTM30_PLUS, Marine Geodesy 32: 355-371. DOI:10.1080/01490410903297766

M2.1.web.orig_v2.1

Indicative distributions of these marine pelagic ecosystem functional groups were derived from bathymetric spatial data obtained from Becker et al. (2009) using depth range thresholds cited in respective descriptive profiles for each functional group. Occurrences were mapped at 30 arc second spatial resolution. Open image full size.

Datasets

  • SRTM30-PLUS-V11

Map references

  • Becker JJ, Sandwell DT, Smith WHF, Braud J, Binder B, Depner J, Fabre D, Factor J, Ingalls S, Kim S-H, Ladner R, Marks K, Nelson S, Pharaoh A, Trimmer R, Von Rosenberg J, Wallace G, Weatherall P (2009) Global Bathymetry and Elevation Data at 30 Arc Seconds Resolution: SRTM30_PLUS, Marine Geodesy 32: 355-371. DOI:10.1080/01490410903297766

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