Gerhard Herndl

There is a continuous rain of particulate organic matter generated in the surface waters of the ocean sinking through the oceanic water column. Only about 1 % of the organic matter produced in the surface waters is reaching ultimately the seafloor in the open ocean. Thus, most of this particle rain is consumed in the deep-sea water column. There is a large amount of particulate organic matter that does not sink but is neutrally buoyant. Resolving the origin, source and turnover of this large pool of neutrally buoyant particles in the deep ocean is the central goal of Gerhard Herndl’s "NEREIDES" project as it might represent the missing carbon source fueling the nutritive requirements of the deep sea micro- and macroorganisms.