Sediment trap samples covering the period from September 1982 to September 1983 at Station P in the subarctic Pacific were analysed for organic carbon, nitrogen, amino acids, hexosamines and carbohydrates. One trap was deployed at 3800 m water depth for the whole period and a second trap was deployed at 1000 m from March to September 1983. Peaks of particle fluxes were observed in September–November 1982. May–June 1983 and July–September 1983. Organic compounds, used as indicators for organic matter sources and degradation, revealed that organic matter is generally least degraded during periods of maximum particle fluxes. During most of the year organic matter is derived from phytoplankton (mainly diatoms). In July to October concentrations of all measured organic compounds peak simultaneously at both trap depths, and amino acid and hexosamine fluxes are higher in the deeper trap. Spectral distributions of amino acids and hexosamines suggest that their increase is due to the addition of organic matter derived from copepods. In this case about 15% of the organic matter in the shallow trap and about 60% of the organic matter in the deep trap is contributed by copepods. The considerable enrichment of the more resistant hexosamines in the deep trap indicates that the copepods entering the traps are not active swimmers, but their decayed remains or molts.
Sediment trap samples covering the period from September 1982 to September 1983 at Station P in the subarctic Pacific were analysed for organic carbon, nitrogen, amino acids, hexosamines and carbohydrates. One trap was deployed at 3800 m water depth for the whole period and a second trap was deployed at 1000 m from March to September 1983. Peaks of particle fluxes were observed in September–November 1982. May–June 1983 and July–September 1983. Organic compounds, used as indicators for organic matter sources and degradation, revealed that organic matter is generally least degraded during periods of maximum particle fluxes. During most of the year organic matter is derived from phytoplankton (mainly diatoms). In July to October concentrations of all measured organic compounds peak simultaneously at both trap depths, and amino acid and hexosamine fluxes are higher in the deeper trap. Spectral distributions of amino acids and hexosamines suggest that their increase is due to the addition of organic matter derived from copepods. In this case about 15% of the organic matter in the shallow trap and about 60% of the organic matter in the deep trap is contributed by copepods. The considerable enrichment of the more resistant hexosamines in the deep trap indicates that the copepods entering the traps are not active swimmers, but their decayed remains or molts.