Skip to main content
Log in

Seasonal variations in distribution and population structure of Microcalanus pygmaeus and Ctenocalanus citer (Copepoda: Calanoida) in the eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

The abundance, vertical distribution and population structure of two important small calanoid copepod species, Microcalanus pygmaeus (G. O. Sars) and Ctenocalanus citer Heron and Bowman, were studied in the eastern Weddell Sea in summer (January/February 1985), in late winter/early spring (October/November 1986) and in autumn (April/May 1992). The population of Microcalanus pygmaeus consisted mainly of copepodite stages CII and CIII in late winter/early spring and were concentrated between 500 and 200 m depth. In summer, stage CIV was the modal stage and the bulk of the population had ascended above 300 m. In autumn the population structure was bimodal with CI and CV dominating. Most of the population was concentrated between 300 and 200 m. In all investigation periods M. pygmaeus had their maximal concentrations in the thermo-pycnocline. The developmental stages CIII to CV of Ctenocalanus citer formed the bulk of the population in late winter/early spring. In October all developmental stages had their main distribution between 500 and 200 m, except females, which were concentrated in the upper 50 m. In November most of the population occurred between 200 and 50 m. The summer population was concentrated in the upper 50 m, and numbers increased dramatically as the new cohort hatched. Copepodite stages CII and CIII dominated the population at the end of January, while CIV dominated 2 wk later. In autumn, CV was the modal stage. The majority of the population was concentrated in the upper 100 m, but there was an increase in abundance below 300 m compared to summer. Age structure changed with depth with a younger surface population and an older one in deeper water layers. The seasonal change in number of M. pygmaeus is much smaller than that of C. citer; the summer:winter:autumn ratio of the former being about one, whereas the winter:summer/autumn of the latter was about nine. Early copepodite stages and adults of M. pygmaeus occurred throughout all investigation periods. The large proportion of early copepodite stages in April and in mid-October suggests autumn and early to midwinter breeding. Apparently, M. pygmaeus may reproduce and grow year-round or perhaps has a 2-yr life-cycle. In contrast, the dramatic increase in abundance of early copepodite stages of C. citer in summer suggests springtime reproduction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bartsch A (1989) Die Eisalgenflora des Weddellmeeres (Antarktis): Artenzusammensetzung und Biomasse sowie Ökophysiologie ausgewählter Arten. Ber Polarforsch 63:1–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan RA, Sekerak AD (1982) Vertical distribution of zooplankton in Eastern Lancaster Sound and western Baffin Bay, July–October 1978. Arctic 35:41–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Chojnacki J, Weglenska T (1984) Periodicity of composition, abundance, and vertical distribution of summer zooplankton (1977/78) in Ezcurra Inlet, Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland). J Plankton Res 6:997–1017

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover RJ, Huntley M (1991) Copepods in ice-coverd seas — distribution, adaptations to seasonally limited food, metabolism, growth patterns and life cycle strategies in polar seas. J mar Systems 2:1–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Corkett CJ, McLaren IA (1978) The biology of Pseudocalanus. Adv mar Biol 15:1–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Digby PSB (1954) The biology of the marine planktonic copepods of Scoresby Sound, East Greenland. J Anim Ecol 23:298–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Eicken H, Grenfell TC, Stonehouse B (1988) Sea ice conditions during an early spring voyage in the eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Polar Rec 24:40–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahrbach E, Klindt H, Muus D, Rohardt G, Salameh P (1987) Physical oceanography. Ber Polarforsch 39:156–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Farran GP (1929) Crustacea, 10. Copepoda. Nat Hist Rep Br Antarct Terra Nova Exped 8:203–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Fransz HG (1988) Vernal abundance, structure and development of epipelagic copepod populations of the eastern Weddell Sea (Antarctica). Polar Biol 9:107–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukushi M, Tanimura A (1981) A preliminary note on the occurrence of copepods under sea ice near Syowa Station, Antarctica. Mem natn Inst polar Res Tokyo (Ser E) 34:13–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Grainger EH (1965) Zooplankton from the Arctic Ocean and adjacent Canadian water. J Fish Res Bd Can 22:543–564

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich AK (1962) The life histories of plankton animals and seasonal cycles of plankton communities in the oceans. J Cons 27: 15–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempel G (1985) Die Expedition ANTARKTIS III mit FS “Polarstern” 1984/85. Ber Polarforsch 25:1–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Heron GA, Bowman TE (1971) Postnaupliar developmental stages of the copepod crustaceans Clausocalanus laticeps, C. brevipes and Ctenocalanus citer (Calanoida: Pseudocalanidae). In: Llano GA, Wallen IE (eds) Biology of the Antarctic Seas 4. Antarctic Res Ser 17:141–165

  • Hopkins TL (1985a) The zooplankton community of Croker Passage, Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 4:161–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL (1985b) Food web of an Antarctic midwater ecosystem. Mar Biol 89:197–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL (1987) Midwater food web in McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Mar Biol 96:93–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL, Torres JJ (1988) The zooplankton community in the vicinity of the ice edge, western Weddell Sea, March 1986. Polar Biol 9:79–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL, Torres JJ (1989) Midwater food web in the vicinity of a marginal ice zone in the western Weddell Sea. Deep-Sea Res 36:543–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntley M, Escritor F (1991) Dynamics of Calanoides acutus (Copepoda: Calanoida) in Antarctic coastal waters. Deep-Sea Res 38:1145–1167

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaczmaruk BZ (1983) Occurrence and distribution of the Antarctic copepods along the ice shelves in the Weddell Sea in summer 1979/80. Meeresforschung 30:25–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause G, Bullister J, Hellmer H, Rohardt G, Schlosser P, Witte H (1985) Physical oceanography. Ber Polarforsch 25:99–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall SM (1949) On the biology of the small copepods in Loch Striven. J mar biol Ass UK 28:45–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Morales CE, Bedo A, Harris RP, Tranter PRG (1991) Grazing of copepod assemblages in the north-east Atlantic: the importance of the small size fraction. J Plankton Res 13:455–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols JH, Thompson AB (1991) Mesh selection of copepodite and nauplius stages for four calanoid copepod species. J Plankton Res 13:661–671

    Google Scholar 

  • Nöthig E-M, v. Bodungen B, Sui Q (1991) Phyto-and protozooplankton biomass during austral summer in surface waters of the Weddell Sea and vicinity. Polar Biol 11:293–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Østvedt O (1955) Zooplankton investigations from weather ship M in the Norwegian Sea, 1948–49. Hvalråd Skr 40:1–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Razouls S (1985) Observations on the ecophysiology of a planktonic Crustacea, Drepanopis pectinatus (Copepoda, Calanoida, Pseudocalanoida), from the southern islands. In: Gray JS, Christiansen ME (eds) Marine biology of Polar regions and effects and of stress on marine organisms. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Chichester, pp 123–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Razouls S, Razouls C (1988) Seasonal size distribution of developmental stages of sub-antarctic copepod. Hydrobiologia 167/168: 239–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Scharek R (1991) Die Entwicklung des Phytoplanktons im östlichen Weddellmeer (Antarktis) beim Übergang vom Spätwinter zum Frühjahr. Ber Polarforsch 94:1–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnack SB, Marschall S, Mizdalski E (1985a) On the distribution of copepods and larvae of Euphausia superba in Antarctic waters during February 1982. Meeresforschung 30:251–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnack SB, Smetacek V, Bodungen B von, Stegmann P (1985b). Utilization of phytoplankton by copepods in Antarctic waters during spring. In: Gray JS, Christiansen ME (eds) Marine biology of Polar regions and effects of stress on marine organisms. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, pp 65–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Spindler M, Dieckmann G, Thomas D (1993) Expedition Antarktis X/3 mit FS “Polarstern” 1992. Ber Polarforsch 121:1–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanimura A, Fukushi M, Hoshiai T (1986) Seasonal change in the abundance of zooplankton and species composition of copepods in the ice-covered sea near Syowa Station. Antarctica. Mem natn Inst Polar Res Tokyo (Spec Issue) 40:212–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanimura A, Fukushi M, Ohtsuka H (1984) Occurence and age composition of Paralabidocera antarctica (Calanoida, Copepoda) under the fact ice near Syowa Station, Antarctica. Mem natn Inst Polar Res. Tokyo (Spec Issue) 32:81–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker MJ, Burton HR (1990) Seasonal and spatial variations in the zooplankton community of an eastern Antarctic coastal location. Polar Biol 10:571–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Vervoort W (1957) Copepods from Antarctic and sub-antarctic plankton samples. Rep BANZ antarct. Res Exped 1929–1931 (B) 3:1–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Weikert H, John H-Ch (1981) Experiences with a modified Bé multiple opening-closing plankton net. J Plankton Res 3:167–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiborg KF (1955) Zooplankton in relation to hydrography in the Norwegian Sea. FiskDir Skr 11:1–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfenden RN (1908) Crustacea VIII. Copepoda Nat. Ant Exp 1901–1904. Nat Hist 4:1–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Zmijewska MI (1983) Copepoda (Calanoida) from the Prydz Bay (Antarctica, Indian Ocean Sector). Pol polar Res (Warsaw) 4: 33–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Zmijewska MI (1987) Horizontal and vertical distribution of Copepoda in the southern part of the Drake Passage and in the Bransfield Strait (BIOMASS-SIBEX 1983/1984). Pol polar Res (Warsaw). 8:381–390

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schnack-Schiel, S.B., Mizdalski, E. Seasonal variations in distribution and population structure of Microcalanus pygmaeus and Ctenocalanus citer (Copepoda: Calanoida) in the eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Marine Bioliogy 119, 357–366 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347532

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347532

Keywords

Navigation