A trait‐based carbon export model for mesopelagic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico with consideration of asynchronous vertical migration, flux boundaries, and feeding guilds

Fish-mediated carbon export provides a significant proportion of the biological pump in oligotrophic regions. Bioenergetic models estimate this transport, but many lack species-specific traits and no model has been developed mesopelagic Gulf Mexico. Intensive sampling efforts northern eastern Mexico have provided high-resolution information regarding community composition, species' vertical migratory characteristics, diel depth occupancies, diets. A stochastic, individual-based was for deep-pelagic fishes to bioenergetic rates fluxes. Fishes that ate gelatinous zooplankton consumed more mass per body weight day than predators cephalopods fishes, ostensibly increase throughput prey with less (gelata) or refractory materials (Crustacea). dynamic energy budget submodel indicated during 81% occurrences, asynchronous vertically migrating rested 1 d before again, migrations on successive days were possible. In terms export, myctophids stomiids contributed greater 53% 12% active flux entire assemblage all scenarios. The assemblage-wide rate driven by 0.14–0.72 mg C m−2 d−1, 61% ingested assemblage. Incorporating individual variability allows complex research questions (e.g., effect feeding guilds migration export) compared otherwise assume within functional group are equivalent.