scholarly journals Mesozooplankton structure and functioning during the onset of the Kerguelen phytoplankton bloom during the KEOPS2 survey

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 4543-4563 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Carlotti ◽  
M.-P. Jouandet ◽  
A. Nowaczyk ◽  
M. Harmelin-Vivien ◽  
D. Lefèvre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spring Bloom ◽  
Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Mesozooplankton Community ◽  
Remarkable Feature ◽  
Kerguelen Islands

Abstract. This paper presents results on the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of mesozooplankton in the naturally fertilized region to the east of the Kerguelen Islands (Southern Ocean) visited at early bloom stage during the KEOPS2 survey (15 October to 20 November 2011). The aim of this study was to compare the zooplankton response in contrasted environments localized over the Kerguelen Plateau in waters of the east shelf and shelf edge and in productive oceanic deep waters characterized by conditions of complex circulation and rapidly changing phytoplankton biomass. The mesozooplankton community responded to the spring bloom earlier on the plateau than in the oceanic waters, where complex mesoscale circulation stimulated initial more or less ephemeral blooms before a broader bloom extension. Taxonomic compositions showed a high degree of similarity across the whole region, and the populations initially responded to spring bloom with a large production of larval forms increasing abundances, without biomass changes. Taxonomic composition and stable isotope ratios of size-fractionated zooplankton indicated the strong domination of herbivores, and the total zooplankton biomass values over the survey presented a significant correlation with the integrated chlorophyll concentrations in the mixed layer. The biomass stocks observed at the beginning of the KEOPS2 cruise were around 1.7 g C m−2 above the plateau and 1.2 g C m−2 in oceanic waters. Zooplankton biomass in oceanic waters remained on average below 2 g C m−2 over the study period, except for one station in the Polar Front zone (F-L), whereas zooplankton biomasses were around 4 g C m−2 on the plateau at the end of the survey. The most remarkable feature during the sampling period was the stronger increase in abundance in the oceanic waters (25 × 103 to 160 × 103 ind m−2) than on the plateau (25 × 103 to 90 × 103 ind m−2). The size structure and taxonomic distribution patterns revealed a cumulative contribution of various larval stages of dominant copepods and euphausiids particularly in the oceanic waters, with clearly identifiable stages of progress during a Lagrangian time series survey. The reproduction and early stage development of dominant species were sustained by mesoscale-related initial ephemeral blooms in oceanic waters, but growth was still food-limited and zooplankton biomass stagnated. In contrast, zooplankton abundance and biomass on the shelf were both in a growing phase, at slightly different rates, due to growth under sub-optimal conditions. Combined with our observations during the KEOPS1 survey (January–February 2005), the present results deliver a consistent understanding of patterns in mesozooplankton abundance and biomass from early spring to summer in the poorly documented oceanic region east of the Kerguelen Islands.

scholarly journals Mesozooplankton structure and functioning during the onset of the Kerguelen phytoplankton bloom during the Keops2 survey

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 2381-2427 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Carlotti ◽  
M.-P. Jouandet ◽  
A. Nowaczyk ◽  
M. Harmelin-Vivien ◽  
D. Lefèvre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Remarkable Feature ◽  
Mesozooplankton Biomass

Abstract. This study presents results on the zooplankton response to the early phase of the northeastern Kerguelen bloom during the KEOPS2 survey (15 October–20 November 2011). The campaign combined a large coverage of the eastern part of the shelf and the adjacent oceanic regions with 2 quasi-perpendicular transects oriented south to north (between 49°08' and 46°50' S) and west to east (between 69°50' and 74°60' E) aiming to document the spatial extension of the bloom and its coastal-off shore gradient, and a pseudo-lagrangian survey located in a complex recirculation zone in a stationary meander of the Polar front nearly centered at the crossing of the 2 initial transects. In addition, 8 stations were performed for 24 h observations, distributed in key areas and some of them common with the KEOPS1 cruise (January–February 2005). The mesozooplankton biomass stocks observed at the beginning of the KEOPS2 cruise were around 2 g C m−2 both above the plateau and in oceanic waters. Zooplankton biomasses in oceanic waters were maintained in average below 2 g C m−2 over the study period, except for one station in the Polar Front Zone (FL), whereas zooplankton biomasses were around 4 g C m−2 on the plateau at the end of the cruise. Taxonomic composition and stable isotope ratios of size-fractionated zooplankton indicated the strong domination of herbivores. The most remarkable feature during the sampling period was the stronger increase in the integrated 0–250 m abundances in the oceanic waters (25 × 103 to 160 × 103 ind m−2) than on the plateau (25 × 103 to 90 × 103 ind m−2). The size structure and taxonomic distributions revealed a cumulative contribution of various larval stages of dominant copepods and euphausiids particularly in the oceanic waters, with clearly identifiable stages of progress during the Lagrangian survey. These different results during KEOPS2 suggested that the zooplankton community was able to respond to the growing phytoplankton blooms earlier on the plateau than in the oceanic waters. The reproduction and early stage development of dominant species were sustained by mesoscale-related initial ephemeral blooms in oceanic waters but individual growth was still food-limited and zooplankton biomass stagnated. On the contrary, zooplankton abundances and biomasses on the shelf were both in a growing phase, with slightly different rates, due to sub-optimal conditions of growth and reproduction conditions. Combined with the KEOPS1, the present results deliver a consistent understanding of the spring changes in zooplankton abundance and biomass in the Kerguelen area.

Zooplankton Community Structure in Hardwater Hypertrophic Lakes of Alberta

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 353-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Pinel-Alloul
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Lime Treatment ◽  
Eutrophic Lakes ◽  
Size Spectra ◽  
Zooplankton Community Structure

Excessive concentrations of phosphorus are a common feature of hardwater eutrophic lakes in western Canada. Preliminary experimental lime treatment showed that this approach had a great potential to reduce phosphorus content and algal biomass. Therefore, two pairs of experimental and reference lakes were selected for a whole lake lime treatment and monitored for a full year prior to manipulation. This study presents the composition and size structure of the Zooplankton community of the lakes before treatment in order to assess the natural summer and inter-lake variations. Before lime treatment, seasonal means of total Zooplankton abundance and biomass ranged from 17 ± 8 to 127 ± 84 ind. L−1 and from 4 ± 2 to 138 ± 236 mg m−3, respectively. The two experimental lakes (Halftnoon and Lofty) were the richest in Zooplankton while the references lakes (Crooked and Jenkins) were the poorest. A total of 30 Zooplankton species (17 rotifers, 2 calanoids, 4 cyclopoids and 7 cladocerans) were recorded as well as 3 chaoborid species. The composition and size structure of Zooplankton varied between lakes and dates. Rotifers accounted for the majority of Zooplankton abundances (59-91%) while Cladocera (78-99%) or Copepoda (74%) in Crooked lake formed most of the Zooplankton biomass. Summer variations of the Zooplankton groups were described along with changes in size spectra. The temporal variation and the inter-lake differences in Zooplankton structure were discussed in relation to trophy, fish and invertebrate predation, and cyanophyte interactions.

Planktivory by the predacious cladoceran Bythotrephes longimanus: effects on zooplankton size structure and abundance

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1865-1872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Wahlström ◽  
Erika Westman
Keyword(s):  
Size Structure ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Bythotrephes Longimanus ◽  
Total Zooplankton ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Zooplankton Communities

In order to study density-dependent effects of invertebrate planktivory, four different densities of Bythotrephes longimanus were inoculated into mesocosm enclosures with a mixed zooplankton community. Changes in size structure and abundance of zooplankton and phytoplankton communities were recorded over a period of 3 weeks. High densities of Bythotrephes were able to reduce total zooplankton abundance, which was mainly due to a decrease in the density of the relatively large species Holopedium gibberum. The density of the smaller species Bosmina longirostris was also reduced with increasing densities of Bythotrephes, whereas rotifer abundance remained largely unaffected. The mean size of Holopedium increased with increasing densities of Bythotrephes. Despite the decrease in total zooplankton biomass in high-Bythotrephes treatments, no effect of Bythotrephes density on primary producers was observed. Our experiment shows that predacious cladocerans may reduce macrozooplankton biomass, large as well as small species. Predation from invertebrate planktivores results in a zooplankton community consisting of larger individuals. Comparing our experimental densities with densities of Bythotrephes found in natural systems suggests that invertebrate planktivores may influence size structure and abundance of zooplankton communities even in lakes with planktivorous fish.

scholarly journals Winter decrease of zooplankton abundance and biomass in subalpine oligotrophic Lake Atnsjøen (SE Norway)

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Total Zooplankton ◽  
Additional Food ◽  
Lake Ecosystems ◽  
Lake Atnsjøen

Despite the rapidly changing winter conditions in temperate ecosystems, little attention has been devoted to the effects of these changes on lake ecology. Few studies on the seasonal changes in abundance and biomass of the major groups of the metazooplankton community (i.e. rotifers, cladocerans and copepods) in northern oligotrophic lakes include data from the ice-covered winter months. This study reports monthly variation in zooplankton abundance and biomass from June 2010 to October 2011, including winter, in an oligotrophic, subalpine lake in southeastern Norway (Lake Atnsjøen). Changes in rotifer, cladoceran, copepod, and total zooplankton abundances and biomass were related to seasonal variation in water temperature and phytoplankton biomass by means of ordination analysis. The zooplankton abundance and biomass were much lower in winter than during the open water season. However, an under-ice phytoplankton bloom occurred during the final winter months, when snow cover and ice thickness were reduced and (presumably) light penetration increased, leading to an increase in abundance of copepod nauplii. Winter zooplankton abundance was dominated by copepods and rotifers, while winter zooplankton biomass was dominated by copepods and cladocerans. Both phytoplankton and zooplankton had two biomass peaks in 2010 and one peak in 2011. Rotifers dominated zooplankton abundance with a peak in August and total zooplankton abundance followed a similar pattern. In contrast, cladocerans dominated zooplankton biomass with a peak in July and total zooplankton biomass also peaked at this time. Rotifer and total zooplankton abundance and rotifer biomass were most closely correlated to water temperature. However, cladoceran biomass and total biomass were most closely correlated with phytoplankton biomass, but also appeared to be dependent on other carbon sources. Estimates of non-phytoplankton particulate organic carbon indicated that this part of the carbon pool could be an additional food source for zooplankton particularly in early and mid-winter. The longer growing season in 2011 than in 2010, owing to earlier ice-off in 2011, may have contributed to higher phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass in 2011. With climate warming, this is an expected change in temperate lake ecosystems.

scholarly journals Recruitment failure of coastal predatory fish in the Baltic Sea coincident with an offshore ecosystem regime shift

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 1587-1595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Ljunggren ◽  
Alfred Sandström ◽  
Ulf Bergström ◽  
Johanna Mattila ◽  
Antti Lappalainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Regime Shift ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Food Limitation ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract Ljunggren, L., Sandström, A., Bergström, U., Mattila, J., Lappalainen, A., Johansson, G., Sundblad, G., Casini, M., Kaljuste, O., and Eriksson, B. K. 2010. Recruitment failure of coastal predatory fish in the Baltic Sea coincident with an offshore ecosystem regime shift. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1587–1595. The dominant coastal predatory fish in the southwestern Baltic Sea, perch and pike, have decreased markedly in abundance during the past decade. An investigation into their recruitment at 135 coastal sites showed that both species suffered from recruitment failures, mainly in open coastal areas. A detailed study of 15 sites showed that areas with recruitment problems were also notable for mortality of early-stage larvae at the onset of exogenous food-intake. At those sites, zooplankton abundance predicted 83 and 34% of the variation in young of the year perch and pike, respectively, suggesting that the declines were caused by recruitment failure attributable to zooplankton food limitation. Incidences of recruitment failure match in time an offshore trophic cascade that generated massive increases in planktivorous sprat and decreases in zooplankton biomass in the early 1990s. Therefore, sprat biomass explained 53% of the variation in perch recruitment from 1994 to 2007 at an open coastal site, where three-spined stickleback also increased exponentially after 2002. The results indicate that the dramatic change in the offshore ecosystem may have propagated to the coast causing declines of the dominating coastal predators perch and pike followed by an increase in the abundance of small-bodied fish.

Seasonal Variation of the Chlorophyll a:Pheopigment Ratio in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1263-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Spence ◽  
D. M. Steven
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Spring Bloom ◽  
Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Spring Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Rate Of Growth ◽  
Close Relationship

Measurements of the chlorophyll a:pheopigment ratio from all parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence showed a close relationship between changes in the ratio and the annual cycle of primary production. The chlorophyll a fraction was greatest at the time of the spring phytoplankton bloom and was lowest during the winter. Differences in the timing of the spring bloom from year to year and between regions of the Gulf indicated that changes in the chlorophyll a:pheopigment ratio were determined primarily by the rate of growth of phytoplankton and were due mainly to variation in the amount of chlorophyll a. No relationship was found between the amount of pheopigment and zooplankton biomass.

scholarly journals Links between Phenology of Large Phytoplankton and Fisheries in the Northern and Central Red Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
John A. Gittings ◽  
Dionysios. E. Raitsos ◽  
Robert J. W. Brewin ◽  
Ibrahim Hoteit
Keyword(s):  
Red Sea ◽  
Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Cell Diameter ◽  
Food Web Structure ◽  
Marine Management ◽  
Fisheries Resources ◽  
Phytoplankton Size

Phytoplankton phenology and size structure are key ecological indicators that influence the survival and recruitment of higher trophic levels, marine food web structure, and biogeochemical cycling. For example, the presence of larger phytoplankton cells supports food chains that ultimately contribute to fisheries resources. Monitoring these indicators can thus provide important information to help understand the response of marine ecosystems to environmental change. In this study, we apply the phytoplankton size model of Gittings et al. (2019b) to 20-years of satellite-derived ocean colour observations in the northern and central Red Sea, and investigate interannual variability in phenology metrics for large phytoplankton (>2 µm in cell diameter). Large phytoplankton consistently bloom in the winter. However, the timing of bloom initiation and termination (in autumn and spring, respectively) varies between years. In the autumn/winter of 2002/2003, we detected a phytoplankton bloom, which initiated ~8 weeks earlier and lasted ~11 weeks longer than average. The event was linked with an eddy dipole in the central Red Sea, which increased nutrient availability and enhanced the growth of large phytoplankton. The earlier timing of food availability directly impacted the recruitment success of higher trophic levels, as represented by the maximum catch of two commercially important fisheries (Sardinella spp. and Teuthida) in the following year. The results of our analysis are essential for understanding trophic linkages between phytoplankton and fisheries and for marine management strategies in the Red Sea.

Forest harvest impacts on water quality and aquatic biota on the Boreal Plain: introduction to the TROLS lake program

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
E E Prepas ◽  
B Pinel-Alloul ◽  
D Planas ◽  
G Méthot ◽  
S Paquet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Total Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Buffer Strip ◽  
Stratified Lakes ◽  
Lake Volume ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Eleven headwater lakes in Alberta's Boreal Plain were monitored for nutrients and plankton 2 years before and 2 years after variable watershed harvesting (harvesting mean 15%, range 0-35%). After harvesting, variations in annual precipitation resulted in lake water residence times that differed by an order of magnitude from one year to the next. During the first posttreatment year, total phosphorus concentrations increased (overall 40%) in most lakes; however, response was most consistent in lakes that were shallow and the water column mixed or weakly thermally stratified. Chlorophyll a, cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon-Anabaena), and cyanotoxins (microcystin-LR) increased after harvesting, primarily in shallow lakes. Zooplankton abundance and biomass decreased after harvesting, particularly in stratified lakes where edible phytoplankton biomass declined. In the weakly or nonstratified lakes, declines in zooplankton biomass were associated with higher cyanobacterial biomass and cyanotoxins. Posttreatment change in total phosphorus concentration was strongly related to weather (greatest response in a wet year) and relative drainage basin size (drainage basin area to lake volume, r2 = 0,78, P << 0,01). There was no evidence that buffer strip width (20, 100, and 200 m) influenced lake response. These results suggest that activities within the entire watershed should be the focus of catchment-lake interactions.

Absorption properties of phytoplankton in the Lower Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Canada)

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 1721-1737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Roy ◽  
Frédérick Blouin ◽  
André Jacques ◽  
Jean-Claude Therriault
Keyword(s):  
Spring Bloom ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Particulate Material ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Pigment Composition ◽  
Ocean Colour ◽  
Absorption Properties ◽  
Ultraviolet Range ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Phytoplankton Absorption

Models of ocean colour rely on information about phytoplankton absorption, which varies according to community composition and photoacclimation. Here we show that pigment packaging, which is strongly determined by the size structure of local algal populations, represents a dominant factor in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, accounting for ~50%–80% of the reduction in phytoplankton absorption at 440 nm during the spring bloom periods and for 24%–48% before and after the blooms. This is consistent with the importance of diatoms in this environment. Comparison between three methods of estimating packaging gave average values within less than 20% of each other during the blooms. Changes in pigment composition, which also affect phytoplankton absorption, were more important outside bloom periods (particularly in the Gulf), although this influence was relatively modest (11%–13%). This was accompanied by an increase in photoprotective pigments and an absorption peak in the ultraviolet range (~330 nm). Regional variations in phytoplankton absorption reflected bloom conditions, whereas detrital particulate material was highest in the upstream Saguenay region (often more than 60% of the absorption of total particulate material at 440 nm (ap(440))) and was at least 20%–30% elsewhere. This information is a first step towards the development of regional models of ocean colour.

Implications of a regional-scale process (the Lakshadweep low) on the mesozooplankton community structure of the Arabian Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. K. Karati ◽  
G. Vineetha ◽  
T. V. Raveendran ◽  
P. K. Dineshkumar ◽  
K. R. Muraleedharan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Process ◽  
Arabian Sea ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Ocean Basin ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Mesozooplankton Community ◽  
Tropical Ocean

The Arabian Sea, a major tropical ocean basin in the northern Indian Ocean, is one of the most productive regions in the global ocean. Although the classical Arabian Sea ‘paradox’ describes the geographical and seasonal invariability in zooplankton biomass in this region, the effect of the Lakshadweep low (LL), a regional-scale physical process, on the zooplankton community has not yet been evaluated. The LL, characterised by low sea surface height and originating around the vicinity of the Lakshadweep islands during the mid-summer monsoon, is unique to the Arabian Sea. The present study investigated the effect of the LL on the zooplankton community. The LL clearly had a positive effect, with enhanced biomass and abundance in the mixed-layer depth of the LL region. Copepods and chaetognaths formed the dominant taxa, exhibiting strong affinity towards the physical process. Of the 67 copepod species observed, small copepods belonging to the families Paracalanidae, Clausocalanidae, Calanidae, Oncaeidae and Corycaeidae dominated the LL region. Phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll-a) was the primary determinant influencing the higher preponderance of the copepod community in this region.

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