Osmoregulation by the gastro-intestinal tract of marine fish at depth - implications for the global carbon cycle

Marine fish are likely one of the top producers of biogenic carbonate in the oceans. However, nothing is known about the production rate and composition of intestinal carbonate (ichthyocarbonate) excreted by mesopelagic fishes, which are small, fragile and account for up to 94% of global fish biomass. To address this knowledge gap, and associated uncertainty of global ichthyocarbonate production, we identified a model species residing at 350-430 m, depths relevant for mesopelagic fishes. The blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus) lacks swim bladders and survives capture and transfer to the lab. Freshly collected blackbelly rosefish, maintained at 6°C, contained high amounts of intestinal ichthyocarbonate (0.4 g kg-1) and excreted ∼5 mg kg-1 h-1 ichthyocarbonate, in agreement with expectations based on allometric and thermal relationships for other species. Despite longer intestinal residence time, intestinal and excreted ichthyocarbonates are similar in crystallite morphology, composition and sinking rate, but have a higher dissolution rate than that produced by shallow water species at higher temperatures, ruling out strong effects of pressure and low temperatures on ichthyocarbonate formation and excretion. Considering allometric and thermal relationships, the metabolic rate of blackbelly rosefish is lower than that of other marine fish in general, and mesopelagic fishes in particular. Our observations support assumptions of ichthyocarbonate excretion by mesopelagic fishes, and suggest that thermal and allometric relationships for ichthyocarbonate excretion determined from shallow water species extend to fish populations at depth.