Table 1.

Percentage of variance for (i) cell count at 1 mbsf (b) and (ii) rate of cell count decrease with depth (m) explained by various parameters

Variable	Cell count at 1 mbsf (b)	Rate of decrease with sediment depth (m)
Mean sedimentation rate	72	42
Distance from land	58	56
Sea-surface chlorophyll	22	4
Gross primary production	29	9
Water depth	38	15
Sea-surface temperature	10	13
Sedimentation rate and water depth	72	45
Sedimentation rate and distance from land	85	62

Data sources are provided in SI Text.