The diel vertical migration of zooplankton and nekton results in an active export of carbon and nitrogen from the oceans surface layer. In vast areas of the ocean the daytime distribution depth of migrating organisms corresponds to the core of an oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). We show that exposure to OMZ conditions can result in a strong depression of respiration and ammonium excretion in zooplankton, a fact that needs to be considered when calculating carbon and nitrogen fluxes in OMZ regions.