The effect of varying temperature on the kinetics of aerobic microbial respiration (a proxy for oxidative carbon mineralization) associated with copepod carcasses was studied in laboratory incubation experiments. Copepod carcasses were produced by exposing female specimens of cultured Acartia tonsa to anoxic conditions for 2 hours. Carcasses were incubated in gas-tight glass vials at 5 different temperatures ranging between 4 and 20°C. The sinking velocity of carcasses of different degradation stage was determined at 3 different temperatures.

The Acartia tonsa specimens used for experimentation were obtained from a long-established laboratory culture at the Department of Science and Environment at Roskilde University. The original collection site of the copepods is unknown.