The deep sea (i.e., > 200 m depth) is a highly dynamic environment where benthic ecosystems are functionally and ecologically connected with the overlying water column and the surface. In the aphotic deep sea, organisms rely on external signals to synchronize their biological clocks. Apart from responding to cyclic hydrodynamic patterns and periodic fluctuations of variables such as temperature, salinity, phytopigments, and oxygen concentration, the arrival of migrators at depth on a 24-h basis (described as Diel Vertical Migrations; DVMs), and from well-lit surface and shallower waters, could represent a major response to a solar-based synchronization between the photic and aphotic realms. In addition to triggering the rhythmic behavioral responses of benthic species, DVMs supply food to deep seafloor communities through the active downward transport of carbon and nutrients. Bioluminescent species of the migrating deep scattering layers play a not yet quantified (but likely important) role in the benthopelagic coupling, raising the need to integrate the efficient detection and quantification of bioluminescence into large-scale monitoring programs. Here, we provide evidence in support of the benefits for quantifying and continuously monitoring bioluminescence in the deep sea. In particular, we recommend the integration of bioluminescence studies into long-term monitoring programs facilitated by deep-sea neutrino telescopes, which offer photon counting capability. Their Photo-Multiplier Tubes and other advanced optical sensors installed in neutrino telescope infrastructures can boost the study of bioluminescent DVMs in concert with acoustic backscatter and video imagery from ultra-low-light cameras. Such integration will enhance our ability to monitor proxies for the mass and energy transfer from the upper ocean into the deep-sea Benthic Boundary Layer (BBL), a key feature of the ocean biological pump and crucial for monitoring the effects of climate-change. In addition, it will allow for investigating the role of deep scattering DVMs in the behavioral responses, abundance and structure of deep-sea benthic communities. The proposed approach may represent a new frontier for the study and discovery of new, taxon-specific bioluminescence capabilities. It will thus help to expand our knowledge of poorly described deep-sea biodiversity inventories and further elucidate the connectivity between pelagic and benthic compartments in the deep-sea.

中文翻译：

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将生物发光深散射层的diel垂直迁移整合到监测程序中

深海（即> 200 m深度）是一个高度动态的环境，底栖生态系统在功能上和生态上与上层水柱和地表相连。在无光的深海中，生物依靠外部信号来同步其生物钟。除了响应周期性的水动力模式和周期性波动（例如温度，盐度，植物沉积物和氧气浓度）外，迁移器还会在24小时内到达深度（称为Diel垂直迁移； DVM），并且来自井-光亮的表面和较浅的水域可能代表着对光域和无光域之间基于太阳的同步的主要反应。除了触发底栖动物的节律性行为反应外，DVM通过主动向下传输碳和营养素，为深海海底社区提供食物。迁移的深散射层中的生物发光物质在底栖上层耦合中起着尚未量化（但可能很重要）的作用，从而增加了将生物发光的有效检测和量化纳入大规模监测程序的需求。在这里，我们提供证据来支持量化和连续监测深海生物发光的好处。特别是，我们建议将生物发光研究整合到深海中微子望远镜的协助下进行的长期监测计划中，该望远镜具有光子计数功能。他们的光电倍增管和其他安装在中微子望远镜基础设施中的先进光学传感器，可与声后向散射和超低光摄像机的视频图像相结合，促进对生物发光DVM的研究。这种整合将增强我们监测从上层海洋到深海底栖生物边界层（BBL）的质量和能量代理的能力，这是海洋生物泵的关键特征，对于监测气候变化的影响至关重要。此外，它将允许调查深散射DVM在深海底栖生物群落的行为反应，丰度和结构中的作用。所提出的方法可能代表着研究和发现新的，分类单元特异性的生物发光能力的新领域。