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Non-predatory mortality in Mediterranean coastal copepods

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Abstract

Mortality affects the dynamics of zooplankton populations with important effects on trophic interactions and biogeochemical fluxes in marine environments, but is still one of the processes least investigated in the field. In the present study, the non-predatory mortality in copepod assemblages and species was investigated by applying the neutral red staining method to identify and quantify copepod carcasses throughout an annual cycle in a Mediterranean coastal site (station LTER-MC in the inner Gulf of Naples). Carcasses accounted on average for 10.3% (±9.7%) of total copepod abundance and were most abundant in spring, summer and autumn. Carcasses were represented predominantly by copepodites (78.9 ± 22.0%) and occurred more frequently and abundantly in calanoids than in other copepod orders, with interspecific differences in their abundance and temporal patterns. Using carcass abundances from field data and decomposition times from laboratory observations, we estimated non-predatory mortality rates of key calanoids that are common and abundant in Mediterranean coastal waters. Non-predatory mortality rates averaged 0.13 day−1 in Paracalanus parvus, 0.07 day−1 in Clausocalanus spp., 0.06 day−1 in Temora stylifera and 0.04 day−1 in Acartia clausi. Non-predatory mortality rates in these populations were not correlated with temperature, salinity or chlorophyll a.

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Acknowledgements

We thank F. Corato for help during the staining method assessment, F. Tramontano and G. Zazo for sampling at station LTER-MC and the crew of the R/V “Vettoria” for assistance during the work at sea. G. Luongo contributed to the laboratory experiments on carcass decomposition. The SZN Monitoring and Environmental Data Unit provided the environmental data. We thank G. Boxshall and M. Uttieri for useful discussions and the four anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticisms and suggestions.

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  1. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy

    Iole Di Capua & Maria Grazia Mazzocchi

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  1. Iole Di Capua
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  2. Maria Grazia Mazzocchi
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Correspondence to Iole Di Capua.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Flagship project RITMARE (Ricerca ITaliana per il MARE, Italian Research for the Sea).

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The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Research involving human or animal participants

Copepods are neither endangered nor protected species, they are not included in the list of human food resource, hence no specific permissions are required to collect copepods in Italy. The LTER-MC is a long term monitoring station. The Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn carries out regular sampling at this station since January 1984. No permissions are needed to sample at the LTER-MC station for employees of the Stazione Zoologica. Data collected at the LTER-MC are weekly updated on the following website http://szn.macisteweb.it.

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Responsible Editor: X. Irigoien.

Reviewed by D. L. Calliari and undisclosed experts.

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Di Capua, I., Mazzocchi, M.G. Non-predatory mortality in Mediterranean coastal copepods. Mar Biol 164, 198 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3212-z

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