{
  "abstract": "This study quantifies the fecal pellet production and pellet sinking rates of the pyrosome Pyrosoma atlanticum in the Southern California Current across a range of conditions, from the productive nearshore to the oligotrophic offshore. Fecal pellet production rates averaged 1310 ± 76 pellets h −1 , resulting in the production of up to 390,380 pellets h −1 m −2 in locations with high densities of 298 ind. m −2 . Fecal pellet mean size was 354 ± 111 μ m, and sinking rates of fresh pellets averaged 47 ± 38 m d −1 , while aged pellets had lower rates averaging 31 ± 28 m d −1 . We estimate ingestion rates of 55.5 ± 9.5 mg C m −2 d −1 in the offshore and 41.1 ± 8.28 mg C m −2 d −1 in nearshore coastal waters. Based on pellet production rates, colony abundance, carbon content per pellet, and literature values of assimilation efficiencies, we estimate that pyrosomes consume the carbon equivalent of ~ 30% of net primary production in offshore waters and 1–26% in coastal waters. We present novel measurements of biogenic silica in pyrosome fecal pellets, indicating that pyrosomes can directly remove 0.5–4% of the euphotic zone‐integrated diatom standing stock, with higher rates in nearshore environments. Direct observation of fecal pellets showed unassimilated diatom chains, confirming direct consumption. Our results suggest that pyrosomes contribute to both carbon and silica export, important processes to constrain for understanding biogeochemistry in the region.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Grace Cawley"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stephanie Matthews"
    },
    {
      "name": "Natalia Llopis-Monferrer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Minerva Padilla Villa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Katherine Barbeau"
    },
    {
      "name": "Moira Décima"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/et42ammh4zapr.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1002/lno.70506",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "et42ammh4zapr",
  "issns": [
    "0024-3590",
    "1939-5590"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-05778229v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sde"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1910|Marine and coastal ecosystems"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213470385",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-17",
  "publisher": "Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/et42ammh4zapr.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:47Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05778229",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-05778229v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "hal:0.sde",
      "subfield": "environmental-science"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Pyrosome fecal pellet production: Implications for grazing and carbon export",
  "title_text": "Pyrosome fecal pellet production: Implications for grazing and carbon export",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:47Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/et42ammh4zapr",
  "venue": "Limnology and Oceanography",
  "versions": []
}