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Copepod feeding strategies in the epipelagic to bathypelagic zone of Prydz Bay, Antarctica: an assessment through fatty acids and stable isotopes

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Abstract

Information on the feeding strategies and dietary preferences of copepods from epipelagic to bathypelagic zones of the Southern Ocean are important for understanding the role of zooplankton in carbon and energy transfers through the food web. Using fatty acids (FA) and stable isotopic biomarkers, the present study investigated the feeding strategies and trophic niches of seven dominant copepod species (Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus, Metridia gerlachei, Rhincalanus gigas, Paraeuchaeta antarctica, Aetideopsis minor and Bathycalanus richardi) collected from various water strata of Prydz Bay, Antarctica during the austral summer of 2013. Copepods showed species-specific and depth-related differences in FA biomarkers and stable isotopic values. C. acutus and C. propinquus had the largest content of long-chain monounsaturated FA, while M. gerlachei had the smallest FA content (approximately 40 mg g−1 dry weight) and the highest 18:1n-9. FA of R. gigas were dominated by short- and medium-length carbon chains. The species P. antarctica and meso- and bathypelagic species A. minor and B. richardi showed relatively higher levels of carnivorous FA ratios and δ15N values. Higher δ15N values in M. gerlachei and P. antarctica dwelled in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zone indicated the high diversity of feeding strategies of these copepods responding to the changing food availability. The flexible feeding strategies of copepods could enable them to utilise different ecological niches and minimise inter- and intra-specific competition in the Prydz Bay.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the crew on the RV “Xuelong” for their assistance in the field. We are grateful to the Polar Biology Repository of the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBMCAS) for providing samples. This work is supported by Polar Project of State Oceanic Administration, China (CHINARE2017-01-05-02, 2017-03, and CHINARE2017-04-01-05) and the Aoshan Science and Technology Innovation Program, China (2015ASKJ02-02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China

    Guang Yang, Chaolun Li & Yanqing Wang

  2. Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China

    Guang Yang & Chaolun Li

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Chaolun Li & Quancai Peng

  4. Research Center of Analysis and Measurement, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China

    Quancai Peng

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  1. Guang Yang
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Correspondence to Chaolun Li.

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Yang, G., Li, C., Wang, Y. et al. Copepod feeding strategies in the epipelagic to bathypelagic zone of Prydz Bay, Antarctica: an assessment through fatty acids and stable isotopes. Polar Biol 41, 1307–1317 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-018-2286-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-018-2286-5

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