Variability in micronekton active carbon transport estimates on the Southwest Coast of Oahu using three different sampling gears

Micronekton were sampled off the southwest coast of Oahu in October 2004 as part North Pacific Marine Sciences Organization (PICES) Sampling Gear Intercalibration experiment (MIE-1). The initiative employed three different micronekton sampling gears: Cobb Trawl, Isaacs–Kidd midwater trawl (IKMT), and Hokkaido University frame (HUFT). catches from gears used to quantify rates active carbon transport. We evaluate differences total transport assessed using data collected by gears, with a particular emphasis on taxa- length-specific across gears. estimates derived HUFT significantly lower than those IKMT. detected no significant difference between IKMT HUFT. Dominant groups contributing varied (Cobb: myctophids cephalopods; HUFT: decapods stomatopods; IKMT: cephalopods, myctophids, decapods); however, contribution individual taxa (e.g., myctophid for was not that IKMT). Pairwise ratios revealed size-specific flux As expected, higher smaller size classes, while more evenly distributed classes. These findings suggest are driven primarily size-based biases, which produce biomass estimates. This study provides foundation upon future studies may be adjusted address gear biases.