The pelagic ocean is the nexus that connects marine ecosystems to each other. Within this space, mobile fauna are key players in generating ecological linkages from the surface ocean to the seafloor, and in linking pelagic, inshore, and offshore ecosystems. Interest in mesopelagic resources in particular has burgeoned in recent years: many mesopelagic taxa are vital prey resources for a wide variety of predators of both commercial and conservation value, while individuals that conduct diel vertical migrations aid in carbon transfer to depth. The mesopelagic zone is also essential habitat for juvenile life stages of deep-demersal and benthic fauna.  Nonetheless, there are substantial knowledge gaps in our understanding of the variability and complexity of pelagic ecosystems, and the ecological dynamics of much of the mesopelagic realm remain poorly constrained, especially where fauna cross classical boundaries between ecosystems.

In this session, we invite presentations exploring the ecology and biodiversity of oceanic zooplankton, micronekton, and nekton and particularly invite studies exploring faunal connectivity between the deep-pelagic realm and surrounding ecosystems.

• Deep Sea Exploration -
• Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry -
• Physical-Biological Interactions -