Zooplankton derived organic matter as a food source for benthic coral

Zooplankton derived organic matter, such as fecal pellets and carcasses, may be a vital source of nutrients for benthic corals. In shallow tropical reefs, settling particles (organic matter) often reach the benthos, in contrast with deeper systems where the particles are recycled/transformed prior to reaching the benthos. Furthermore, zooplankton fecal pellets aggregate together and entrain additional organic matter, aiding in the transference of organic matter to reefs. These settling particles can be ingested by coral as a supplement to the nutrients obtained from their symbionts (zooxanthellae). Settling particles can provide essential lipids, which are produced by phytoplankton and repackaged by zooplankton, to coral reefs. Settling particles collected in the Upper Florida Keys Reef Tract were used to evaluate the role of zooplankton in the transportation of organic matter. The general chemical composition remained constant in the sediment particles, and total sediment flux generally decreased as distance from shore increased. Through lipid and stable isotope analyses, zooplankton sources were determined to contribute approximately 50% of the total lipid content in the particles with smaller contributions coming from phytoplankton, bacteria, vascular plants, and coral. The repackaging of phytoplankton derived organic matter by zooplankton demonstrates zooplankton as a primary driver of settling particles in coral reefs. The shallow water column in the reef habitat results in less recycling and remineralization of sediment particles compared to the open ocean, leading to the direct transport of organic matter from the surface to the benthos. Therefore, zooplankton abundance and composition play a vital role in determining the availability of organic matter and settling particles on coral reefs. Without zooplankton transporting organic matter throughout the water column reefs would likely decline, meaning it is imperative that zooplankton derived organic matter is considered when studying coral reefs.