Microzooplankton biomass distribution in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea (Antarctica)
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more
Also appears in:Le Fèvre, J.; Tréguer, P. (Ed.) (1998). Carbon Fluxes and Dynamic Processes in the Southern Ocean: Present and Past. Selected papers from the International JGOFS Symposium, Brest, France, 28-31 August 1995. Journal of Marine Systems, 17(1-4). Elsevier: Amsterdam. 1-619 pp., more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Plankton > Nannoplankton
Aquatic communities > Plankton > Zooplankton
Aquatic organisms > Heterotrophic organisms
Composition > Community composition
Distribution > Geographical distribution > Vertical distribution
Ecological zonation
Population characteristics > Biomass
Spatial variations
Taxa > Species > Dominant species
Antarctica, Victoria Land, Terra Nova [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Umani, S.F.
- Monti, M.
- Nuccio, C.
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| Abstract |
This work describes the spatial and vertical distribution of microzooplankton (20–200 μm) abundance and biomass of the upper layers (0–100 m), collected during the first oceanographic Italian expedition in Antarctica (1987/1988) in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea). Biomass was estimated by using biovolume calculations and literature conversion factors. Sampling was carried out at three depths, surface, 50 and 100 m. The dominant taxa were made up of tintinnid ciliates, ciliates other than tintinnids, larvae of micrometazoa and heterotrophic dinoflagellates. The abundance of the total microplankton fraction had its absolute maximum in the center of Terra Nova Bay at the surface with 31 042 ind. dm−3. The areal and vertical distribution of heterotrophic microplankton biomass differs from that of abundance. On the basis of hydrological conditions, phytoplankton composition and biomass and microzooplankton biomass and structure it is possible to identify three groups of stations: 1—northern coastal stations (intermediate chlorophyll maxima, microphytoplankton prevalence, low microzooplankton biomass); 2—central stations (high surface chlorophyll, nanoplankton prevalence, high abundance of microzooplankton); 3—northern stations (deeper pycnocline, nanoplankton prevalence, high microzooplankton biomass at intermediate depths). |
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