Abstract
In the framework of the Dutch Mauritania Expedition 1988, zooplankton was sampled in the beginning of the spring upwelling season at 44 stations along the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania. Distribution patterns of oceanic and neritic copepod species and especially of the upwelling indicator Calanoides carinatus (Kröyer) were analysed in search for direct proof of circulation of ocean upwelling water over the inshore banks. The vertical temperature distribution at the stations pointed to upwelling in two different parts of the shelf area. According to the copepod data the two upwellings were of a different nature. A restricted area at the shelf edge near Cap Timiris appeared to represent a relatively stable coastal upwelling situation. Upwelled water present near Cap Blanc was found to have traveled quite recently over a considerable part of the shelf. In the central area between the two upwellings, ‘Banc-water’ extended from the shelf into the ocean. The possible impact of the observed circulation of ocean water on productivity of the shelf benthic system is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baars, M. A., A. B. Sutomo, S. S. Oosterhuis & O. H. Arinardi, 1990. Zooplankton abundance in the eastern Banda Sea and northern Arafura Sea during and after the upwelling season, August 1984 and February 1985. Neth. J. Sea Res. 25: 527–543.
Bainbridge, V., 1960. Occurrence of Calanoides carinatus Kröyer in the plankton of the Gulf of Guinea. Nature, 188 (4754): 932–933.
Boje, R. & M. Tomzcak, 1978. Ecosystem Analysis and the Definition of Boundaries in Upwelling Regions. In R. Boje & M. Tomzcak (eds), Upwelling Ecosystems, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 1978: 3–11.
Cadée, G. C., 1986. Organic carbon in the water column and its sedimentation, Fladen Ground (North Sea), May 1983. Neth. J. Sea Res. 20: 347–358.
Daan, R., 1987. Impact of the egg predation by Noctiluca miliaris on the summer development of copepod population in the Southern North Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 37: 9–17.
Fransz, H. G., 1976. The spring development of calanoid copepod populations in the Dutch coastal waters as related to primary production. In G. Persoone & E. Jaspers (eds), Proc. 10th E.M.B.S., Oostende. Universal Press, Wetteren; Belgium: 247–269.
Fransz, H. G., 1988. Vernal abundance, structure and development of epipelagic copepod population of the Eastern Weddell Sea (Antartica). Polar Biol. 9: 107–114.
Fransz, H. G. & W. G. van Arkel, 1980. Zooplankton activity during and after the phytoplankton spring bloom at the central station in the FLEX box, Northern North Sea, with special reference to the calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus (Gun). ‘Meteor’ Forsch. Ergebn. A 22: 113–121.
Fransz, H. G., J. M. Colebrook, J. C. Gamble & M. Krause, 1991. The Zooplankton of the North Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 28 (1/2): 1–52.
Fransz, H. G., J. C. Miquel & S. R. Gonzalez, 1984. Mesozooplankton composition, biomass and vertical distribution, and copepod production in there stratified central North Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 18: 82–96.
Isaacs, J. D. & Kidd, L. W., 1953. Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl. Final report. Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ref. 53.-3, Oceanographic equipment report 1.
Klein Breteler, W. C. M., H. G. Fransz & S. R. Gonzalez, 1982. Growth and development of calanoid copepods under experimental and natural conditions. Neth. J. Sea Res. 16: 195–207.
Margalef, R., 1975. Composicion y distribucion del fitoplancton marino en la region de afloramiento del NW de Africa, en marzo de 1973 (Campana ‘Atlor II’ del ‘Cormide de Saavedra’). Res. Exp. Cient. B/O Comide. 4: 131–144.
Nassogne, A., 1972. Etudes préliminaires sur le rôle du zooplankton dans la constitution et le transfert de la matière organique au sein de la chaîne alimentaire marine en mer Ligure. Thesis Univ. Amsterdam: 1–237.
Pavlov, V. Y., 1968. Plankton distribution in the Cape Blanc region. Oceanology (Moscow), 8: 381–387.
Reyssac, J., 1977. Hydrologie, phytoplancton et production primaire de la baie du Lévrier et du Banc d'Arguin. Bull. Inst. Franç. Afrique Noire 39 A (3): 488–554.
Schulz, K., 1982. The vertical distribution of calanoid copepods north of Cape Blanc. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer, 180: 280–288.
Smed, J., 1982. The oceanographic data base for the CINECA region. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer, 180: 11–28.
Vives, F., 1974. Le zooplankton et les masses d'eau des environs du Cap Blanc. Thetys 6: 313–318.
Vives, F., 1982. Sur les copepodes de la région CINECA (Parties nord et centrale). Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer, 180: 289–296.
Weikert, H., 1977. Copepod Carcasses in the Upwelling Region South of Cap Blanc, N.W. Africa. Mar. Biol. 42: 351–355.
Weikert, H., 1982. Some features of zooplankton distribution in the upper 200 m in the upwelling region off Northwest Africa. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer, 180: 280–288.
Wolff, W. J. & C. J. Smit, 1980. The Banc d'Arguin, Mauritiana, as an environment for coastal birds. Ardea 78: 17–38.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuipers, B.R., Witte, H.J. & Gonzalez, S.R. Zooplankton distribution in the coastal upwelling system along the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania. Hydrobiologia 258, 133–149 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006192
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006192