137Cs concentration in zooplankton and its relation to taxonomic composition in the western North Pacific Ocean

To study the role of zooplankton in the transport of 137Cs in the ocean, zooplankton samples were collected in October 2005 and June 2006 in the western North Pacific Ocean. The peak zooplankton biomass was observed in the surface layer, and gelatinous plankton was more abundant in October 2005 than in June 2006 reflecting exchange of water masses. The concentrations of 137Cs in zooplankton varied from 11 to 24 mBq kg wet−1 and were higher in October 2005 than in June 2006. The elevated abundance of gelatinous zooplankton probably led to higher concentration of 137Cs in zooplankton in October 2005. Annual export fluxes of 137Cs by ontogenetic vertical migrant copepods were estimated to be 0.8 and 0.6 mBq m−2 year−1 at 200 and 1000 m depths, respectively; this suggested that transport of 137Cs by zooplankton may be no trivial pathway.