Abstract
Large and diverse mesozooplankton communities were observed on marine snow particles collected in coastal and oceanic waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Mesozooplankton were col- lected from seven phyla, including ostracods, cladocerans, pelecypods and ascidian larvae not previ- ously recorded as being associated with marine snow. Copepod nauplii were the most common, sometimes at concentrations >100 per aggregate. Oncaea spp., Oithona spp. and Microsetclla norvcgica were the most common copepod species. Total mesozooplankton abundance ranged between 2 and 278 organisms per aggregate. Organisms varied markedly in their distribution across the aggregate surface and in their behaviour towards the snow matrix. Comparison of snow communities with zoo- plankton abundance determined from net tows suggests that some species are concentrated on snow particles. Snow particles and their associated microbial communities may be a significant source of nutrition for these mesozooplankton. Mesozooplankton may contribute significantly to the degra- dation and decomposition of large snow particles as they sink through the upper water column.
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