Abstract
The reproductive response of Rhincalanus gigas to the build up of a phytoplankton bloom in the Southern Ocean was studied during the European iron fertilization experiment (EIFEX). Egg production experiments were conducted over a period of approximately 5 weeks during development of a diatom dominated bloom. R. gigas showed a clear response to increasing chlorophyll a concentrations and the total egg production of the R. gigas population was highest just after the peak of the bloom at day 29 after fertilization. The average peak production was 50 eggs female−1 day−1. The percentage of egg producing females increased from about 0 to 90% during the course of the experiment. Accordingly, the maturation of the gonads reflected the positive response towards enhanced chlorophyll a concentrations. The fast reproductive response indicate that R. gigas was food limited during the period of this study in the Antarctic Polar Front region (APF).
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the captain and the crew of the RV “Polarstern” for their support. T. Stadtlander helped with the zooplankton collection during the cruise. M. Schmidt and A. Terbrüggen helped with Chl a analysis. C/N values from station 424 and 513 were provided by S. Kruse. Helpful comments by V. Smetacek, C. Wexels Riser, B. Niehoff and two anonymous referees are highly appreciated.
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Jansen, S., Klaas, C., Krägefsky, S. et al. Reproductive response of the copepod Rhincalanus gigas to an iron-induced phytoplankton bloom in the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol 29, 1039–1044 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0147-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0147-0