Abundance, Electron transport System (ETS) activity and respiration rates of pelagic decapods from the Benguela upwelling system during AFR258, D356 and MSM17/3

Calanid copepods such as Calanoides carinatus were identified as an important prey item especially for caridean species. Community consumption rates of pelagic decapods derived from respiration rates ranged from 7 mg C m**-2 d**-1 (231S) to 420 mg C m**-2 d**-1 (191S, 171S). A potential active respiratory carbon flux was calculated for migrating pelagic decapods with 4.4 mg C m**- d**-1 for the upper 200 m and with 2.6 mg C m**-2 d**-1 from the base of the euphotic zone to a depth of 600 m.

Overall, pelagic decapods apparently play a more prominent role in the northern Benguela Current ecosystem than previously assumed and may exert a substantial predation impact on calanid copepods (up to 13% d**-1 of standing stock).