Importance of copepod carcasses versus faecal pellets in the upper water column of an oligotrophic area

► Zooplankton faecal pellets and carcasses downward flux in the Western Mediterranean. ► C and N flux of carcasses often exceeded that of faecal pellets in the upper column. ► These fluxes can be significant to bentho-pelagic coupling in oligotrophic areas. ► We also compare zooplankton predational and non-predational biomass mortality. ► Zooplankton mortality should be taken into consideration in the upper water column.