Trofismo e processi di mineralizzazione nelle acque. Ruolo dei "fecal pellets"

Description

Fecal pellets (FP) are important components of the particulate organic matter (POM); they are the final remainings of nutrition and digestion processes performed by zooplankters and represent a food and energy source in neritic and pelagic ecosystems; furthermore, they contribute to carry several substances such as pollutants and radionuclides, along the water column. On the basis of bibliographical data, some news about morphology, production, composition, distribution, utilization and ecological concern of FP in aquatic ecosystems are here reported.

Additional details