Table 1 Comparison of krill faecal pellet (FP) POC export at 100 m (this study) with literature estimates of total POC export

From: Krill faecal pellets drive hidden pulses of particulate organic carbon in the marginal ice zone

Data source/model algorithm

POC export flux in the MIZa (GT C yr−1)

Krill FP contribution to POC exportb (%)

POC export flux south of 60 °Sc (GT C yr−1)

Krill FP contribution to POC exportb (%)

This study -krill FPs only

0.039

   

Satellite-based estimates d

Carr, Henson

0.076

51.5

0.101

38.5

Carr, Dunne

0.122

32.0

0.152

25.6

Carr, Laws

0.209

18.6

0.281

13.8

Marra, Henson

0.082

47.2

0.104

37.4

Marra, Dunne

0.137

28.4

0.160

24.3

Marra, Laws

0.227

17.1

0.289

13.5

VGPM, Henson

0.064

60.6

0.090

43.3

VGPM, Dunne

0.103

37.6

0.135

28.8

VGPM, Laws

0.177

21.9

0.250

15.5

POC export models

Primeau et al. 2013e,f

  

0.22

17.7

Schlitzer et al. 2002e

  

1.00

3.9

MacCready et al. 2001e

  

0.31

12.5

  1. aEstimates are for the productive season, October–March. For satellite-based estimates these are for the region south of the maximum ice extent during the productive period defined here (i.e. location of 15% sea ice concentration for period 1–13 October 1994–2014)
  2. bPercentage contribution of our estimate of krill FP export flux (0.039 GT C yr −1) to various total POC export estimates
  3. cAnnual export for the region south of 60 °S, with the exception of Schlitzer et al. (2002) and Primeau et al. (2013) which are for the regions south of 50 °S and 55–60 °S, respectively.
  4. dNamed according to the input primary production and export (see methods)
  5. eAnnual export
  6. fExport at base of euphotic zone (73.4 m)