Gelatinous zooplankton (GZ), including jellyfish, salps, and ctenophores, are increasingly recognized as key players in the ocean carbon cycle. GZ spans multiple trophic levels and thrives in diverse marine habitats. Although there are uncertainties, GZ populations may be expanding globally due to changing ocean conditions, potentially exerting large-scale impacts on marine ecosystems. Although historically underappreciated, recent studies indicate that GZ contributes significantly to carbon sequestration, facilitating particulate organic carbon (POC) export through the sinking of carcasses, fecal pellets, and the formation of marine snow.
This session will explore the multifaceted roles of diverse GZ in vertical carbon export, their impact on biogeochemical processes, and how their unique interactions with microbial communities influence nutrient cycling. We invite contributions from experimental, observational, and modeling studies that shed light on GZ-mediated carbon fluxes, their ecological and biogeochemical importance, and their potential to reshape the biological carbon pump. Insights into GZ contributions to the soft-tissue pump, microbial loop dynamics, and carbon storage are particularly encouraged.
Additionally, we welcome new surveys and methodologies, including metabarcoding and omics techniques, to improve understanding of GZ diversity and their ecological roles. Innovative approaches to monitoring GZ through remote sensing, drones, ROVs, and citizen science, alongside advancements in ecosystem modeling, are highly welcomed. This session aims to bridge gaps in our understanding of GZ's role in past and future oceanic changes and their broader implications for marine ecosystem services. By advancing our knowledge of GZ ecology and their contributions to the global carbon cycle, this session aims to enhance the integration of GZ into biogeochemical models and improve predictions of ocean carbon storage.