Comments on: Diversity linked to ecosystem function https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/ All the news on the Earth's largest environment. Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:32:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://csrtech.com By: Kevin Z https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1991 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:32:10 +0000 https://www.deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1991 I’ve similar statements from other meiofauna biologists. But we should make the distinction between ALL life and all metazoan life. My labmate next to me argues with me all the time that fungi in the deep sea are the most dominant sequence in his sediment cores.

]]> By: Ravail singh https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1990 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:44:33 +0000 https://www.deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1990 I am studying nematodes from deep sea. Yes this is a satisfactory statement that nematodes contributing 80 to 90% of all life in the deep ocean.I am predicting nematodes are playing a major role in ocean productivity.

]]> By: CR McClain https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1989 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:01:46 +0000 https://www.deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1989 Definitely metazoan biomass and abundance. Potentially for diversity.

]]> By: RPM https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1988 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:56:59 +0000 https://www.deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1988 Nematodes apparently account for 90% of all life at the bottom of the sea. I am unsure whether this is given in terms of species richness or biomass

This could only be in biomass, not in raw counts of individuals or species richness (the latter being a pretty meaningless metric when applied across diverse groups of organisms such as metazoans and bacteria). Even in biomass, I’m skeptical of that estimate. Perhaps this refers to eukaryotic or metazoan biomass.

]]> By: Peter https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1987 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 11:44:16 +0000 https://www.deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1987 Ocean’s collapse? I just can’t picture the physics of it.
ScienceDaily is stretching the point, in my opinion.

]]> By: Mrs Hilary Victoria Minor https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1986 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 07:13:31 +0000 https://www.deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1986 “Deep-sea Species’ Loss Could Lead to Ocean’s Collapse, Study Suggests”
Well, life wouldn’t be the same without a bit of healthy apocalyptic doom and gloom mongering, now, would it? So I suppose the papers chose the most controversial aspect of the report in order to get their readers to read anything of it at all? A headline that said something like “Scientists say we must look after all the bits of the Ocean we can’t see” wouldn’t have quite the same ring. Mind you, maybe they have got to the heart of it and are right . . . a-a-a-r-g-h!

]]> By: Dave Briggs https://deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1985 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:00:30 +0000 https://www.deepseanews.com/2007/12/diversity-linked-to-ecosystem-function/#comment-1985 A recent study linking deep-sea biodiversity to ecosystem processes recognized that 1) the deep-sea supports the largest biomass of living things on the planet and 2) the deep-sea represents the most important ecosystem for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous cycling. The chosen indicator species for the study was the nematode worm.

This is pretty amazing. I know for years, I and everyone I knew thought of the deep part of the deep blue sea as a big empty space. Now with people finding new species every week and also discovering the huge quantity of life down there, it turns out to be a very interesting place!
Dave Briggs :~)

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