20 research outputs found
Distribution et fonction du mésozooplancton dans le premier kilomètre de l’océan mondial
No full textMesozooplankton refers to all aquatic animals between 200 µm and 2000 µm that drift with the currents. The variability of mesozooplankton plays a major role in the carbon cycle and global changes through direct and indirect effects. It is distributed throughout the water column from the surface to the abyss. The mesopelagic zone (between 200 and 1000 m depth) is a critical water layer because of the physical and biological processes affecting carbon fluxes that take place there. However, mesopelagic mesozooplankton is rarely studied, due to sampling constraints and the lack of taxonomic knowledge of a community that is still poorly studied. The collection of samples from the Tara Oceans expedition analyzed by imaging at the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche sur Mer has allowed the generation of a global mesozooplankton database, from the surface to the lower limit of the mesopelagic zone (1000 m). The combination of taxonomic and morphometric data generated by the imaging technique allows: i) to describe the faunal structure of the mesozooplankton; ii) to study its size structure; and iii) to calculate the physiological rates of crustaceans to estimate their contribution to the carbon budget in the global ocean, from the surface to 1000 m. These data have been augmented with data from the Malaspina cruise, recent Geomar cruises and in-situ imaging data of vertical particles profiles (underwater vision profiler, UVP) from Tara Oceans. This thesis is a first step towards the analysis of descriptor variables and the distribution of mesozooplankton communities in the mesopelagic zone at the global scale, in relation with vertical particles fluxes and hydrological and biogeochemical variables. Our results show that the structure of epipelagic mesozooplankton communities at the global scale depends mainly on temperature, phytoplankton composition, and surface-produced particulate organic matter. In the mesopelagic layer, the main factors structuring the mesozooplankton are surface phytoplankton composition, particulate concentration, temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration. The size structure of the mesozooplankton was studied through the analysis of slopes and shapes of the normalized biomass size spectrum or the normalized biovolume size spectrum (NBSS). Our results show that position in the water column (depth) is a more important factor than the effect of latitude in explaining differences between mesozooplankton communities (relative abundances of taxa, biomass, NBSS). NBSS observed in tropical regions reflect a drastic decrease in mesozooplankton abundance, accompanied by a decrease in their spectral slopes (steeper), while their shapes were less affected. NBSS of large mesozooplankton and particles > 500 µm ESD obtained from two different methods (net collection and imaging by ZooScan, and in situ imaging, UVP, respectively) allowed to directly compare and intercalibrate their NBSS from oligotrophic to eutrophic systems. Results show that nets significantly underestimate fragile organisms such as rhizarians and UVP underestimates copepods, with high variability with latitude and depth. Mesozooplankton NBSS estimated by both instruments are in agreement at locations where copepods dominate, in the temperate and polar oceans. Analysis of tropical crustacean NBSS reveals the existence of five types communities, associated with distinct habitats: surface rich environment, upper mesopelagic rich environment, lower mesopelagic poor environment, oligotrophic mesopelagic and oxygen minimum zones (OMZ) [...]Le mésozooplancton désigne l'ensemble des animaux aquatiques compris entre 200 µm et 2000 µm, qui ne peuvent pas s’affranchir des courants. La variabilité du mésozooplancton joue un rôle majeur dans le cycle du carbone et les changements globaux à travers des effets directs et indirects. Il se distribue sur toute la colonne d’eau depuis la surface jusqu’aux abysses. La zone mésopélagique (entre 200 et 1000 m de profondeur) constitue une couche d’eau critique en raison des processus physiques et biologiques affectant les flux de carbone qui s’y déroulent. Toutefois, le mésozooplancton mésopélagique est rarement étudié, en raison des contraintes d'échantillonnage et de la méconnaissance taxonomique d’une communauté encore peu étudiée. La collection d’échantillons de l'expédition Tara Océans analysée par imagerie au Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche sur Mer a permis de générer une base de données de mésozooplancton d’emprise globale, de la surface jusqu’à la limite inférieure de la zone mésopélagique (1000 m). La combinaison des données taxonomiques et morphométriques générées par l’imagerie permet: i) de décrire la structure faunistique du mésozooplancton ; ii) d'étudier sa structure en taille; et iii) de calculer les taux physiologiques des crustacés pour estimer leur contribution au budget de carbone dans l'océan global, de la surface jusqu’à 1000 m. Ces données ont été augmentées des données de la campagne Malaspina, des récentes campagnes Geomar et des données d’imagerie in-situ de profils verticaux de particules (profileur de vision sous-marine, UVP) de Tara Océans. Cette thèse est une première étape vers l'analyse des variables descriptrices et la distribution des communautés de mésozooplancton dans la zone mésopélagique à l’échelle globale, en relation avec les flux verticaux de particules et les variables hydrologiques et biogéochimiques. Nos résultats montrent que la structure des communautés mésozooplanctoniques épipélagiques à l'échelle globale dépend essentiellement de la température, de la composition du phytoplancton, et de la matière organique particulaire produite en surface. Dans la couche mésopélagique, les principaux facteurs structurant le mésozooplancton sont la composition du phytoplancton de surface, la concentration en particules, la température et la concentration en oxygène dissous. La structure en taille du mésozooplancton a été étudiée à travers l’analyse des pentes et des formes des spectres de taille en biomasse normalisée ou en biovolume normalisé (NBSS). Nos résultats montrent que la position dans la colonne d’eau (profondeur) est un facteur plus important que l’effet de la latitude pour expliquer les différences entre communautés de mésozooplancton (abondances relatives des taxons, biomasse, NBSS). Les NBSS observés dans les régions tropicales sont le reflet d’une diminution drastique de l'abondance du mésozooplancton, s’accompagnant d’une diminution de leurs pentes spectrales (plus pentues), tandis que leurs formes changent peu. Les NBSS du grand mésozooplancton et des particules > 500 µm ESD obtenus à partir de deux méthodes différentes (collecte au filet et imagerie par ZooScan, et imagerie in situ, UVP, respectivement) ont permis de comparer et intercalibrer directement leurs NBSS, des systèmes oligotrophes aux systèmes eutrophes. Les résultats montrent que les filets sous-échantillonnent significativement les organismes fragiles tels que les rhizaires et que l’UVP sous-échantillonne les copépodes, avec une forte variabilité en fonction de la latitude et de la profondeur. Les NBSS du mésozooplancton estimés par les deux instruments concordent aux endroits où les copépodes dominent, dans les océans tempérés et polaires [...
Distribution and function of mesozooplankton in the first kilometer of the global ocean
No full textLe mésozooplancton désigne l'ensemble des animaux aquatiques compris entre 200 µm et 2000 µm, qui ne peuvent pas s’affranchir des courants. La variabilité du mésozooplancton joue un rôle majeur dans le cycle du carbone et les changements globaux à travers des effets directs et indirects. Il se distribue sur toute la colonne d’eau depuis la surface jusqu’aux abysses. La zone mésopélagique (entre 200 et 1000 m de profondeur) constitue une couche d’eau critique en raison des processus physiques et biologiques affectant les flux de carbone qui s’y déroulent. Toutefois, le mésozooplancton mésopélagique est rarement étudié, en raison des contraintes d'échantillonnage et de la méconnaissance taxonomique d’une communauté encore peu étudiée. La collection d’échantillons de l'expédition Tara Océans analysée par imagerie au Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche sur Mer a permis de générer une base de données de mésozooplancton d’emprise globale, de la surface jusqu’à la limite inférieure de la zone mésopélagique (1000 m). La combinaison des données taxonomiques et morphométriques générées par l’imagerie permet: i) de décrire la structure faunistique du mésozooplancton ; ii) d'étudier sa structure en taille; et iii) de calculer les taux physiologiques des crustacés pour estimer leur contribution au budget de carbone dans l'océan global, de la surface jusqu’à 1000 m. Ces données ont été augmentées des données de la campagne Malaspina, des récentes campagnes Geomar et des données d’imagerie in-situ de profils verticaux de particules (profileur de vision sous-marine, UVP) de Tara Océans. Cette thèse est une première étape vers l'analyse des variables descriptrices et la distribution des communautés de mésozooplancton dans la zone mésopélagique à l’échelle globale, en relation avec les flux verticaux de particules et les variables hydrologiques et biogéochimiques. Nos résultats montrent que la structure des communautés mésozooplanctoniques épipélagiques à l'échelle globale dépend essentiellement de la température, de la composition du phytoplancton, et de la matière organique particulaire produite en surface. Dans la couche mésopélagique, les principaux facteurs structurant le mésozooplancton sont la composition du phytoplancton de surface, la concentration en particules, la température et la concentration en oxygène dissous. La structure en taille du mésozooplancton a été étudiée à travers l’analyse des pentes et des formes des spectres de taille en biomasse normalisée ou en biovolume normalisé (NBSS). Nos résultats montrent que la position dans la colonne d’eau (profondeur) est un facteur plus important que l’effet de la latitude pour expliquer les différences entre communautés de mésozooplancton (abondances relatives des taxons, biomasse, NBSS). Les NBSS observés dans les régions tropicales sont le reflet d’une diminution drastique de l'abondance du mésozooplancton, s’accompagnant d’une diminution de leurs pentes spectrales (plus pentues), tandis que leurs formes changent peu. Les NBSS du grand mésozooplancton et des particules > 500 µm ESD obtenus à partir de deux méthodes différentes (collecte au filet et imagerie par ZooScan, et imagerie in situ, UVP, respectivement) ont permis de comparer et intercalibrer directement leurs NBSS, des systèmes oligotrophes aux systèmes eutrophes. Les résultats montrent que les filets sous-échantillonnent significativement les organismes fragiles tels que les rhizaires et que l’UVP sous-échantillonne les copépodes, avec une forte variabilité en fonction de la latitude et de la profondeur. Les NBSS du mésozooplancton estimés par les deux instruments concordent aux endroits où les copépodes dominent, dans les océans tempérés et polaires [...]Mesozooplankton refers to all aquatic animals between 200 µm and 2000 µm that drift with the currents. The variability of mesozooplankton plays a major role in the carbon cycle and global changes through direct and indirect effects. It is distributed throughout the water column from the surface to the abyss. The mesopelagic zone (between 200 and 1000 m depth) is a critical water layer because of the physical and biological processes affecting carbon fluxes that take place there. However, mesopelagic mesozooplankton is rarely studied, due to sampling constraints and the lack of taxonomic knowledge of a community that is still poorly studied. The collection of samples from the Tara Oceans expedition analyzed by imaging at the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche sur Mer has allowed the generation of a global mesozooplankton database, from the surface to the lower limit of the mesopelagic zone (1000 m). The combination of taxonomic and morphometric data generated by the imaging technique allows: i) to describe the faunal structure of the mesozooplankton; ii) to study its size structure; and iii) to calculate the physiological rates of crustaceans to estimate their contribution to the carbon budget in the global ocean, from the surface to 1000 m. These data have been augmented with data from the Malaspina cruise, recent Geomar cruises and in-situ imaging data of vertical particles profiles (underwater vision profiler, UVP) from Tara Oceans. This thesis is a first step towards the analysis of descriptor variables and the distribution of mesozooplankton communities in the mesopelagic zone at the global scale, in relation with vertical particles fluxes and hydrological and biogeochemical variables. Our results show that the structure of epipelagic mesozooplankton communities at the global scale depends mainly on temperature, phytoplankton composition, and surface-produced particulate organic matter. In the mesopelagic layer, the main factors structuring the mesozooplankton are surface phytoplankton composition, particulate concentration, temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration. The size structure of the mesozooplankton was studied through the analysis of slopes and shapes of the normalized biomass size spectrum or the normalized biovolume size spectrum (NBSS). Our results show that position in the water column (depth) is a more important factor than the effect of latitude in explaining differences between mesozooplankton communities (relative abundances of taxa, biomass, NBSS). NBSS observed in tropical regions reflect a drastic decrease in mesozooplankton abundance, accompanied by a decrease in their spectral slopes (steeper), while their shapes were less affected. NBSS of large mesozooplankton and particles > 500 µm ESD obtained from two different methods (net collection and imaging by ZooScan, and in situ imaging, UVP, respectively) allowed to directly compare and intercalibrate their NBSS from oligotrophic to eutrophic systems. Results show that nets significantly underestimate fragile organisms such as rhizarians and UVP underestimates copepods, with high variability with latitude and depth. Mesozooplankton NBSS estimated by both instruments are in agreement at locations where copepods dominate, in the temperate and polar oceans. Analysis of tropical crustacean NBSS reveals the existence of five types communities, associated with distinct habitats: surface rich environment, upper mesopelagic rich environment, lower mesopelagic poor environment, oligotrophic mesopelagic and oxygen minimum zones (OMZ) [...
Eddy-induced salinity changes in the tropical Pacific
No full textThe signature of westward propagating mesoscale eddies in sea surface salinity (SSS) is analyzed for the tropical Pacific by collocating 7years (2010-2016) of Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity SSS satellite data with coherent mesoscale eddies automatically identified and tracked from altimetry-derived sea level anomalies. First, the main characteristics of the long-lived coherent eddies are inferred from sea level anomalies maps. Then, the mean signature of the mesoscale eddies on SSS is depicted for the whole tropical Pacific before focusing in regions centered around the central and eastern parts of the tropical North Pacific. In these areas, composite analyses based on thousands of eddies reveal regionally dependent eddy impacts with opposite SSS anomalies for cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. In the central region, where the largest meridional SSS large-scale gradients and smallest eddy amplitudes are observed, results show dipole-like SSS changes with maximum anomalies on the leading edge of the composite eddy. In contrast, in the eastern region, where the largest near-surface vertical salinity gradients and largest eddy amplitudes are observed, the composite eddy shows monopole-like SSS changes with maximum anomalies near the composite eddy center. These distinct dipole/monopole SSS patterns suggest the dominant role of horizontal advection and vertical processes in the central and eastern regions, respectively. Other possible explanations, notably one involving the contrasted eddy amplitudes of the two regions, are discussed. Plain Language Summary Sea surface salinity (SSS) is an Essential Climate Variable needed to improve our knowledge of the Earth's water cycle and climate. SSS has proven to be valuable for improving estimates of evaporation minus precipitation (E-P) budgets, describing and understanding climate variability at seasonal to decadal time scales, testing physical processes, assessing numerical model skills, quantifying the role of salinity on sea level change, improving El Nino prediction lead time, and quantifying the ocean-atmosphere CO2 exchanges. Very few studies have, however, focused on what we call small-scale (that is mainly eddies of the order of 50- to 300-km radius) SSS changes in the open ocean, mainly due to the lack of high-resolution measurements. Relying on unprecedented satellite measurements of SSS, the present study shows how eddies in the tropical Pacific can modify the spatial distribution of SSS. We suggest that these modifications are likely due (i) to the rotational sense of the eddies, which move SSS horizontally, and (ii) to their capability to move or mix waters up and down while rotating
Towards a distributed and operational pelagic imaging network
No full textDimensions of particulate matter found in the water column of marine and freshwater environments (the pelagic realm) range from nanometers to tens of meters. Included in this enormous size range are miniature bacteria, phytoplankton (photosynthetic microalgae), mixoplankton (mixotrophic microorganisms), micro- to meter sized drifting animals (zooplankton), plastic particles, detrital aggregates and fecal pellets, fish, whales and many others. These particles and organisms are involved in many different processes and perform a multitude of services, such as in oceanic biogeochemistry (carbon fixation, oxygen production, carbon export and others) or human nourishment (fisheries). Digital optical tools used in pelagic imaging approaches now allow to bridge this enormous size span and to image micro- to meter-sized objects in situ or on discrete samples. Monitoring plankton, nekton, and particle dynamics at spatial and temporal scales that enable effective management of marine and freshwater environments poses a collective challenge for society. We here argue that a global, distributed and operational network for pelagic imaging is needed and within reach, and we provide recommendations how it can be attained via the voluntary activities of the pelagic imaging community and strategic support from funding agencies and other stakeholders
Complete zooplankton size spectra re-constructed from in situ imaging and Multinet data in the global ocean
No full textPlankton size spectra are important indicators of the ecosystem state, as they illustrate the quantity of organisms available for higher marine food web and reflect multiple size-dependent processes. Yet, such measurements are typically biased by the available sampling methods, either disrupting fragile organisms or lacking good resolution (in size and/or time and space). In this study, we combined two of the most common approaches to measure zooplankton Normalized Biomass/Biovolume Size Spectra (NBSS) to calculate a complete zooplankton distribution for organisms larger than 1 mm. The reconstructed NBSS slopes appeared steeper and closer to those measured by the UVP5 (+7.6%) and flatter than those of the Multinet (-20%) particularly in tropics and temperate latitudes. The overall gain in polar biomass was relatively small for reconstructed biomass compared to bulk estimates from Multinet (+0.24 mgC/m3 or +4.25%) and high from the UVP5 (+2.0 mgC/m3 or +53%). In contrast, in the tropical and temperate ecosystems, the gain in biomass was small for UVP5 (+0.67 mgC/m3 or +30.44% and +0.74 mgC/m3 or +19.59% respectively) and high for Multinet (+1.66 mgC/m3 or +136% and +3.4 mgC/m3 or +309% respectively). Given these differences, we suggest here to combine in situ imaging sensors and net data in any comprehensive study exploring key living players in the ocean ecosystem and their contributions to the biological pump.Tara Oceans (which includes both the Tara Oceans and Tara Oceans Polar Circle expeditions) would not exist without the leadership of the Tara Ocean Foundation and the continuous support of 23 institutes (https://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/). The global sampling effort was enabled by countless scientists and crew who sampled aboard the Tara from 2009– 2013, and we thank MERCATOR-CORIOLIS and ACRI-ST for providing daily satellite data during the expeditions. We are also grateful to the countries who graciously granted sampling permission. We thank Agnès b. and Etienne Bourgois, the Prince Albert II de Monaco Foundation, the Veolia Foundation, Region Bretagne, Lorient Agglomeration, Serge Ferrari, Worldcourier, and KAUST for support and commitment. We also thank “Make Our Planet Great Again Team” for the postdoctoral fellow support
Complete zooplankton size spectra re-constructed from « in situ » imaging and Multinet data in the global ocean
No full textPlankton size spectra are important indicators of the ecosystem state, as they illustrate the quantity of organisms available for higher marine food web and reflect multiple size-dependent processes. Yet, such measurements are typically biased by the available sampling methods, either disrupting fragile organisms or lacking good resolution (in size and/or time and space). In this study, we combined two of the most common approaches to measure zooplankton Normalized Biomass/Biovolume Size Spectra (NBSS) to calculate a complete zooplankton distribution for organisms larger than 1 mm. The reconstructed NBSS slopes appeared steeper and closer to those measured by the UVP5 (+7.6%) and flatter than those of the Multinet (- 20%) particularly in tropics and temperate latitudes. The overall gain in polar biomass was relatively small for reconstructed biomass compared to bulk estimates from Multinet (+0.24 mgC/m3 or +4.25%) and high from the UVP5 (+2.0 mgC/m3 or +53%). In contrast, in the tropical and temperate ecosystems, the gain in biomass was small for UVP5 (+0.67 mgC/m3 or +30.44% and +0.74 mgC/m3 or +19.59% respectively) and high for Multinet (+1.66 mgC/m3 or +136% and +3.4 mgC/m3 or +309% respectively). Given these differences, we suggest here to combine in situ imaging sensors and net data in any comprehensive study exploring key living players in the ocean ecosystem and their contributions to the biological pump
Marine snow morphology drives sinking and attenuation in the ocean interior
No full textSimultaneous measurements of marine snow (particles larger than 600 µm) morphologies, estimates of their in situ sinking speeds and midwater attenuation in export plumes were performed for the first time using a BGC-Argo float equipped with optical and imaging sensors. The float was deployed and recovered after one year drifting in the sluggish flow regime of the Angola basin. Six consecutive chlorophyll-a and particulate matter accumulation events were recorded at the surface, each followed by an export plume of sinking aggregates. Objects larger than 600 µm were classified using machine learning recognition and clustered into four morphological categories of marine aggregates. Plankton images were validated by an expert in a few broad categories. Results show that different types of aggregates were produced and exported from the different blooms. The different morphological categories of marine snow had different sinking speeds and attenuation for similar size indicating the effect of morphology on sinking speed. However, the typical size-to-sinking relationship for two of the categories and over the larger observed size range (100 µm-few mm) was also observed, indicating the importance of size for sinking. Surprisingly, calculated in situ sinking speeds were constantly in the lower range of known values usually assessed ex situ, suggesting a methodological effect which is discussed. Moving away from purely size-based velocity relationships and incorporating these additional morphological aggregates properties will help to improve mechanistic understanding of particle sinking and provide more accurate flux estimates. When used from autonomous platforms at high frequency, they will also provide increased spatio-temporal resolution for the observation of intermittent export events naturally occurring or induced by human activities associated with marine Carbon Dioxide Removal
Towards a global in situ monitoring of plankton using imaging systems: lessons learnt from the past 10 years of observation in Europe
No full textInternational audiencePlankton plays a key role in the biological pump and has a big impact on marine living resources. However, plankton is difficult to observe in a consistent manner across its extended size range and by the multiple observers that uses protocols that are not inter calibrated. Imaging sensors have the potential to provide key ``ecosystem essential ocean variables'' eEOVs (plankton biodiversity, morphological traits) that complement other sensors such as optical ones. Lab and in-situ imaging sensors have been deployed the 10 last years to provide insights into local dynamics in the frame of time series programs (from daily to decadal scales) and during oceanographic surveys across ocean basins. Combining observations from the different programmes has sometimes allowed to detect concomitant changes in different areas or provide a better spatial distribution of plankton communities. For example, such efforts were supported by the European FP7 JERICO, H2020 JERICO-NEXT, BRIDGES, EURO-BASIN programs. Most of the observation efforts were performed independently and hundreds of millions of images have been collected (and billions to come as sensors are getting more available). All those sparsely distributed images are usually not available for the users because of limited development in software solutions for identification, archiving and distribution, which are in a current improving process. Several attempts for developing web based services for image recognition, distribution and archiving have been performed (ecotaxa.obs-vlfr.fr) but only a fraction of the existing and future data can be treated by them. Based on the past ten years of effort, we will present a synthesis of successful developments in using imaging systems to provide information on plankton community at local, regional and ultimately global scales. These examples will show how relevant they are for ecosystem monitoring (e.g. detection of ecosystem changes and regime-shifts) and services (e.g. aquaculture, fisheries, biological carbon pump). We will then build on these examples to discuss future developments with the aim of, better observing, harmonizing practices and developing state of the art marine data and information management in order to increase the connection with the relevant stakeholders and community of users among researchers, conservation managers and private companies
Towards a global in situ monitoring of plankton using imaging systems: lessons learnt from the past 10 years of observation in Europe
No full textInternational audiencePlankton plays a key role in the biological pump and has a big impact on marine living resources. However, plankton is difficult to observe in a consistent manner across its extended size range and by the multiple observers that uses protocols that are not inter calibrated. Imaging sensors have the potential to provide key ``ecosystem essential ocean variables'' eEOVs (plankton biodiversity, morphological traits) that complement other sensors such as optical ones. Lab and in-situ imaging sensors have been deployed the 10 last years to provide insights into local dynamics in the frame of time series programs (from daily to decadal scales) and during oceanographic surveys across ocean basins. Combining observations from the different programmes has sometimes allowed to detect concomitant changes in different areas or provide a better spatial distribution of plankton communities. For example, such efforts were supported by the European FP7 JERICO, H2020 JERICO-NEXT, BRIDGES, EURO-BASIN programs. Most of the observation efforts were performed independently and hundreds of millions of images have been collected (and billions to come as sensors are getting more available). All those sparsely distributed images are usually not available for the users because of limited development in software solutions for identification, archiving and distribution, which are in a current improving process. Several attempts for developing web based services for image recognition, distribution and archiving have been performed (ecotaxa.obs-vlfr.fr) but only a fraction of the existing and future data can be treated by them. Based on the past ten years of effort, we will present a synthesis of successful developments in using imaging systems to provide information on plankton community at local, regional and ultimately global scales. These examples will show how relevant they are for ecosystem monitoring (e.g. detection of ecosystem changes and regime-shifts) and services (e.g. aquaculture, fisheries, biological carbon pump). We will then build on these examples to discuss future developments with the aim of, better observing, harmonizing practices and developing state of the art marine data and information management in order to increase the connection with the relevant stakeholders and community of users among researchers, conservation managers and private companies
Resolving the scales of plankton ecology and biogeochemical fluxes with the Underwater Vision Profiler
No full textThe Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP) has been developed to study the number, size and shape of particles (size > 80µm) and plankton (size > 700µm) in situ. Over the last decade, thousands of profiles have been collected in the world's oceans by the UVP5 to better understand and quantify processes affecting community compositions of large plankton and the biological carbon pump. These data, used together with modeling approaches helped estimate plankton global carbon biomass and particle vertical flux. The most recent UVP (UVP6) sensors have been developed to be mounted on autonomous platforms, mooring and CTD rosettes down to 6000 m depth. Fully inter-calibrated, they record particles and identify plankton and marine snow after recovery or during deployment using an embedded recognition algorithm. A complete software ecosystem is used to pilot the instrument, record the data, and make them available to fulfill the global need of easy data access expressed by scientists, policy makers and the public. Because of the cost reduction of the UVP6, its capability to be mounted on many platforms including autonomous ones, the Ocean is being quickly populated by this sensor (125 sensors have been in operation in the last 2 years). Recent plankton community composition, particle mass, and flux data from three different basins in the Atlantic will be presented. In the next decade, the massive global monitoring of these key biological Essential Oceanographic Variables will significantly advance our understanding of key aquatic processes including the biological carbon pump
