@article{fdi:010072343,
  title = {{G}lobal biogeochemical provinces of the mesopelagic zone},
  author = {{R}eygondeau, {G}. and {G}uidi, {L}. and {B}eaugrand, {G}. and {H}enson, {S}. {A}. and {K}oubbi, {P}. and {M}ac{K}enzie, {B}. {R}. and {S}utton, {T}. {T}. and {F}ioroni, {M}. and {M}aury, {O}livier},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}im: {F}ollowing the biogeographical approach implemented by {L}onghurst for the epipelagic layer, we propose here to identify a biogeochemical 3-{D} partition for the mesopelagic layer. {T}he resulting partition characterizes the main deep environmental biotopes and their vertical boundaries on a global scale, which can be used as a geographical and ecological framework for conservation biology, ecosystem-based management and for the design of oceanographic investigations. {L}ocation: {T}he global ocean. {M}ethods: {B}ased on the most comprehensive environmental climatology available to date, which is both spatially and vertically resolved (seven environmental parameters), we applied a combination of clustering algorithms (c-means, k-means, partition around medoids and agglomerative with {W}ard's linkage) associated with a nonparametric environmental model to identify the vertical and spatial delineation of the mesopelagic layer. {R}esults: {F}irst, we show via numerical interpretation that the vertical division of the pelagic zone varies and, hence, is not constant throughout the global ocean. {I}ndeed, a latitudinal gradient is found between the epipelagic-mesopelagic and mesopelagic-bathypelagic vertical limits. {S}econd, the mesopelagic layer is shown here to be composed of 13 distinguishable {B}iogeochemical {P}rovinces. {E}ach province shows a distinct range of environmental conditions and characteristic 3-{D} distributions. {M}ain conclusions: {T}he historical definition of the mesopelagic zone is here revisited to define a 3-{D} geographical framework and characterize all the deep environmental biotopes of the deep global ocean. {A}ccording to the numerical interpretation of mesopelagic boundaries, we reveal that the vertical division of the zone is not constant over the global ocean (200-1,000 m) but varies between ocean basin and with latitude. {W}e also provide evidence of biogeochemical division of the mesopelagic zone that is spatially structured in a similar way than the epipelagic in the shallow waters but varies in the deep owing to a change of the environmental driving factors.},
  keywords = {biogeochemical provinces ; environmental division ; macroecology ; mesopelagic ; {O}cean ; {T}wilight zone},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {B}iogeography},
  volume = {45},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {500--514},
  ISSN = {0305-0270},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1111/jbi.13149},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072343},
}