The Importance of Food Pulses in Benthic-Pelagic Coupling Processes of Passive Suspension Feeders

Benthic-pelagic coupling processes and the quantity of carbon transferred from water column to benthic suspension feeders need multiple intensive sampling approaches where several environmental variables benthos performance are quantified. Here, activity, dietary composition, capture rates three Mediterranean gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata, Eunicella singularis, Leptogorgia sarmentosa) were assessed in an cycle considering different such as seston concentration quality (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, zooplankton), colony branch patterns, energetic input single species (i.e., mixotrophic heterotrophic). The showed clear differences their impact on concentration. Paramuricea most densely distributed, a greater near bottom seston. lowest E. singularis could be explained by its mixotrophy branching pattern. sarmentosa had similar having much more complex pattern than order magnitude smaller number colonies per meter square other two octocorals. amount ingested peaks may cover non-neglectable proportion potential fluxes.