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Diel feeding behavior of neritic copepods during spring and fall blooms in Akkeshi Bay, eastern coast of Hokkaido, Japan

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Abstract

In situ diel feeding behavior of neritic copepods was investigated using the gut fluorescence method, during spring and fall bloom periods in Akkeshi Bay, on the eastern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Acartia omorii and Paracalanus sp. were the dominant species during the fall, and Pseudocalanus spp. and A. longiremis during the spring. During both bloom periods, diel rhythms were always observed for the gut pigment contents of these dominant copepods, although there were interspecific differences in the pattern. The maximum gut pigment content was always observed during the night and the minimum during the day. For all species, except Paracalanus sp., the average gut pigment content during the night was significantly higher (p<0.05) than during daytime by factors of between 1.5 and 2.7. There were no significant differences between the gut evacuation rate constants determined during the day and the night, and initial gut pigment content had no effect on the value of gut evacuation rate constants. The instantaneous ingestion rates of individual copepods calculated from gut pigment and the mean value of gut evacuation rate constants followed the same diel rhythms as gut pigment contents. Copepod daily ingestion rates were higher than the daily requirements for respiration during both bloom periods. Estimated daily ration was 40 to 91% of body carbon during the fall bloom, and 17 to 28% during the spring bloom. The higher daily rations during fall were probably due to the difference in in situ temperature (ca. 14°C).

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Author notes

  1. S. Taguchi

    Present address: Faculty of Engineering, Soka University, 192, Hachioji, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Katsura-koi 116, 085, Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan

    H. Saito & S. Taguchi

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  1. H. Saito
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  2. S. Taguchi
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Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hiroshima

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Saito, H., Taguchi, S. Diel feeding behavior of neritic copepods during spring and fall blooms in Akkeshi Bay, eastern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Marine Biology 125, 97–107 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350764

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350764

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