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Abstract Oceanic trenches are an important sink for organic matter (OM). However, little is known about how much of the OM reaching the hadal region derives from the sunlit surface ocean and other sources. We provide new insight into the OM sources in the Atacama Trench by examining the elemental and stable isotope composition of carbon and nitrogen in bulk OM throughout the entire water column and down to bathyal and hadal sediments. Moreover, we estimated the particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration and downward carbon flux. Our results, based on two‐way variance analysis, showed statistical differences in δ¹⁵N_PONbetween the epipelagic zone and the deep zones. However, no statistical differences in δ¹³C_POCand C:N ratio between hadalpelagic and shallower pelagic zones were found, except for δ¹³C_POCin the oxygen‐deficient zone. On the contrary, whereas the isotopic signatures of hadal sediments were distinct from those over the entire water column, they were similar to the values in bathyal sediments. Thus, our results suggest that bathyal sediments could contribute more OM to hadal sediments than the different zones of the water column. Indeed, whereas POC flux estimates derived from remote sensing data indicate that ∼16%–27% of POC could evade surface remineralization within the top 200 m and potentially be exported to depths beyond the mesopelagic region, model estimates suggest that ∼3.3% of it could reach hadal depths. Our results provide a quantitative baseline of pelagic‐benthic coupling which can aid in assessment of carbon cycling changes in future climate scenarios. 

Abstract. Elevated organic matter (OM) concentrations are found in hadalsurface sediments relative to the surrounding abyssal seabed. However, theorigin of this biological material remains elusive. Here, we report on thecomposition and distribution of cellular membrane intact polar lipids (IPLs)extracted from surface sediments around the deepest points of the AtacamaTrench and adjacent bathyal margin to assess and constrain the sources oflabile OM in the hadal seabed. Multiscale bootstrap resampling of IPLs'structural diversity and abundance indicates distinct lipid signatures inthe sediments of the Atacama Trench that are more closely related to thosefound in bathyal sediments than to those previously reported for the upperocean water column in the region. Whereas the overall number of unique IPLstructures in hadal sediments contributes a small fraction of the total IPLpool, we also report a high contribution of phospholipids with mono- anddi-unsaturated fatty acids that are not associated with photoautotrophicsources and that resemble traits of physiological adaptation to highpressure and low temperature. Our results indicate that IPLs in hadalsediments of the Atacama Trench predominantly derive from in situ microbialproduction and biomass, whereas the export of the most labile lipidcomponent of the OM pool from the euphotic zone and the overlying oxygenminimum zone is neglectable. While other OM sources such as the downslopeand/or lateral transport of labile OM cannot be ruled out and remain to bestudied, they are likely less important in view of the lability ofester-bond IPLs. Our results contribute to the understanding of themechanisms that control the delivery of labile OM to this extreme deep-seaecosystem. Furthermore, they provide insights into some potentialphysiological adaptation of the in situ microbial community to high pressure andlow temperature through lipid remodeling.