3 faunally-distinct depth zones: 200 to 800 m (upper slope), 800 to 1425 m (middle slope) and 1425 to 1800 m (lower slope). Differences in δ 15 N and δ 13 C between October 1996 and May 1998 were observed only in the crustaceans Aristeus antennatus and Nematocarcinus exilis. There were few differences among depths in δ 15 N or δ 13 C of benthic fishes or crustaceans: the shrimps A. antennatus and Acanthephyra eximia showed higher δ 15 N values at greater depth, and δ 13 C values of the fishes Alepocephalus rostratus (Alepocephalidae) and Coelorhynchus coelorhynchus (Macrouridae) also tended to increase with increasing depth. Differences in plankton and suprabenthos were also observed among zones (at depth, greater δ 15 N values of gelatinous plankton, calanoid copepods and peracarids were recorded, along with smaller δ 13 C values of gelatinous plankton and peracarids). These are attributed to a microbially-mediated increase in δ 15 N and a reduction in δ 13 C of the particulate material remaining after preferential utilization of labile organic matter in the stable and relatively high (13°C) temperature of the Mediterranean water column. Strong positive correlations between δ 15 N and δ 13 C data for plankton, fishes and crustaceans indicated a single primary source material for these communities, which is attributed to marine snow.
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