Table 1 Characteristics of detrital particles and their sinking speeds measured in this study (mean ± SD [min-max]).
From: Grazers extend blue carbon transfer by slowing sinking speeds of kelp detritus
Particle type | Area (mm2) | Biomass (g WW) | Sinking speed (m s−1) |
|---|---|---|---|
Small sea urchin faeces (n = 24) | 0.6 ± 0.4 [<0.1–1.2] | 0.0001 ± 0.00001# [5.0E-6–0.0003] | 0.008 ± 0.003 [0.002–0.014] |
Medium sea urchin faeces (n = 24) | 2.7 ± 1.2 [0.8–5.0] | 0.0005 ± 0.0002# [0.0002–0.0007] | 0.014 ± 0.004 [0.004–0.020] |
Large sea urchin faeces (n = 24) | 7.7 ± 2.2 [2.9–11.8] | 0.0014 ± 0.0004# [0.0004–0.002] | 0.012 ± 0.004 [0.005–0.020] |
Small blade fragments (n = 49) | 63 ± 42 [15–173] | 0.14 ± 0.09¥ [0.034–0.387] | 0.028 ± 0.005 [0.022–0.041] |
Medium blade fragments (n = 44) | 2229 ± 929 [625–3624] | 4.98 ± 2.08¥ [1.40–8.11] | 0.041 ± 0.030 [0.008–0.150] |
Large blade fragments (n = 44) | 12112 ± 9315 [3632–36743] | 27.1 ± 20.1¥ [8.1–82.2] | 0.040 ± 0.025 [0.015–0.100] |
Blade new (n = 20) | 16059 ± 58214 [12238–285300] | 291 ± 106 [152–563] | 0.076 ± 0.061 [0.008–0.250] |
Blade old (n = 10) | 165394 ± 46486 [56498–235136] | 413 ± 156 [142–694] | 0.073 ± 0.027 [0.049–0.121] |
Stipe (n = 20) | 40363 ± 51644 [19706–212635] | 431 ± 52 [334–526] | 0.181 ± 0.048 [0.100–0.333] |
Whole thallus (n = 10) | 182034 ± 36011 [129785–239187] | 645 ± 64 [793–575] | 0.165 ± 0.049 [0.067–0.250] |
