Typically, all undecomposed metazoans found in formalin‐poisoned cups of sediment traps are considered to be active intruders (or “swimmers”) and are removed to prevent an overestimation of the downward particle flux. However, intact metazoans dead before entering the trap should be included in the estimation of downward flux of carbon. Arctic copepods collected in the field were killed either by formalin to mimic death by act...