Abstract
Micronekton and macrozooplankton were collected during the austral spring of 1993 in the NW Weddell Sea. Sampling was done in three areas of the marginal ice zone: pack ice, ice edge, and open water, to examine the short-term effects of the spring phytoplankton bloom on the distribution and abundance of dominant fish and invertebrate species. Significant differences were observed for several common species, including Salpa thompsoni,Euphausia superba, Electrona antarctica, Gymnoscopelus braueri,and G. opisthopterus. Increased abundance seaward of the pack ice for these species is attributed to elevated phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass at the ice edge and in the open water areas. Distribution of the hyperiid amphipods, Cyllopus lucasii and Vibilia stebbingi mirrored that of S. thompsoni. No distributional trends between the areas were observed for Thysanoessa macrura, the amphipods Cyphocaris richardi and Primno macropa, the decapod shrimp Pasiphaea scotiae, the scyphomedusae Atolla wyvilli and Periphylla periphylla, and chaetognaths, indicating a trophic independence from the ice-edge bloom for these species. Lower occurrence of the mesopelagic fish Bathylagus antarcticus and Cyclothone microdon under the ice suggested that trophic repercussions of the spring bloom can also extend to deeper living species.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ainley DG, Fraser WR, Sullivan CW, Torres JJ, Hopkins TL, Smith WO Jr (1986) Antarctic mesopelagic micronekton: evidence from seabirds that pack ice affects community structure. Science 232:847–849
Ainley DG, Fraser WR, Smith WO Jr, Hopkins TL, Torres JJ (1991) The structure of upper level pelagic food webs in the Antarctic: Effect of phytoplankton distribution. J Mar Sys 2:111–122
Atkinson A, Shreeve RS (1995) Response of the copepod community to a spring bloom in the Bellingshausen Sea. Deep Sea Res II 42:1291–1311
Burghart SE, Hopkins TL, Vargo GA, Torres JJ, (1999) Effects of a rapidly receding ice edge on the abundance, age structure, and feeding of three dominant calanoid copepods in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Polar Biol 22:279–288
Brierley AS, Fernandez PG, Brandon MA, Armstrong F, Millard NW, McPhail SD, Stevenson P, Pebody M, Perrett J, Squires M, Bone DG, Griffiths G (2002) Antarctic krill under the sea ice: elevated abundance in a narrow band just south of the ice edge. Science 295:1890–1892
Brinton E (1985) The oceanographic structure of the eastern Scotia Sea—III. Distributions of euphausiid species and their developmental stages in 1981 in relation to hydrography. Deep Sea Res 32:1153–1180
Cota GF, Smith WO Jr, Nelson DM, Muench RD, Gordon LI (1992) Nutrient and biogenic particulate distributions, primary productivity and nitrogen uptake in the Weddell-Scotia Sea marginal ice zone during winter. J Mar Res 50:155–181
Daly KD, Macaulay MC (1988) Abundance and distribution of krill in the ice edge zone of the Weddell Sea, austral spring 1983. Deep Sea Res 35:21–41
Daly KD, Macaulay MC (1991) Influence of physical and biological mesoscale dynamics on the seasonal distribution and behavior of Euphausia superba in the Antarctic marginal ice zone. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 79:37–66
Donnelly J, Kawall H, Geiger SP, Torres JJ (2004) Metabolism of Antarctic micronektonic crustacea across a summer ice-edge bloom: respiration, composition, and enzymatic activity. Deep Sea Res II 51:2225–2245
Donnelly J, Torres JJ, Hopkins TL, Lancraft TM (1994) Chemical composition of Antarctic zooplankton during austral fall and winter. Polar Biol 14:171–183
Eicken H (1992) The role of sea ice in structuring Antarctic ecosystems. Polar Biol 12:3–13
Foster TD, Middleton JH (1984) The oceanographic structure of the eastern Scotia Sea, I, Physical Oceanography. Deep Sea Res 31:529–550
Fisher EC, Kaufmann RS, Smith KL Jr (2004) Variability of epipelagic macrozooplankton/micronekton community structure in the NW Weddell Sea, Antarctica (1995–1996). Mar Biol 144:345–360
Foxton P (1966) The distribution and life-history of Salpa thompsoni Foxton with observations on a related species, Salpa gerlachei Foxton. Discov Rep 34:1–116
Garrison DL, Buck KR (1989) Protozoolankton in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica: abundance and distribution in the ice edge zone. Polar Biol 9:341–351
Geiger SP, Kawall HG, Torres JJ (2001) The effect of the receding ice edge on the condition of copepods in the northwestern Weddell Sea: results from biochemical assays. Hydrobiologia 453/453:79–90
Godlewska M (1993) Acoustic observations of krill (Euphausia superba) at the ice edge (between Elephant I. and South Orkney I., Dec.1988/Jan.1989). Polar Biol 13:507–514
Gon O, Heemstra PC (eds) (1990) Fishes of the Southern Ocean. JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa, 462 pp
Gordon AL (1967) Structure of Antarctic waters between 20°W and 170°W. Am Geogr Soc, Antarctic Map Folio Ser 6:1–10, pls 1–14
Harbison GR, Biggs DC, Madin LP (1977) The associations of Amphipoda Hyperiidea with gelatinous zooplankton- II. Associations with Cnidaria, Ctenophora and Radiolaria. Deep Sea Res 24:465–488
Holm-Hansen O, Riemann B (1978) Chlorophyll-a determination: Improvements in methodology. Oikos 30:438–447
Hopkins TL (1985) Food web of an Antarctic midwater ecosystem. Mar Biol 89:197–212
Hopkins TL (1987) Midwater food web in McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Mar Biol 96:93–106
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
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
Huntley ME, Sykes PF, Marin V (1989) Biometry and trophodynamics of Salpa thompsoni Foxton (Tunicata: Thaliacea) near the Antarctic Peninsula in austral summer, 1983–1984. Polar Biol 10:59–70
Kaufmann RS, Smith Jr RL, Baldwin RJ, Glatts RC, Robison BH, Reisenbichler KR (1995) Effects of seasonal pack ice on the distribution of macrozooplankton and micronekton in the northwestern Weddell Sea. Mar Biol 124:387–397
Kawall HG, Torres JJ, Geiger SP (2001) Effects of the ice-edge bloom on the metabolism of copepods in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Hydrobiologia 453/454:67–77
Kirkwood JM (1982) A guide to the Euphausiacea of the Southern Ocean. Aust Nat Antarct Res Exped, ANARE Res Notes, 44 pp
Lancraft TM, Torres JJ, Hopkins TL (1989) Micronekton and macrozooplankton in the open waters near Antarctic ice edge zones (AMERIEZ 1983 and 1986). Polar Biol 9:225–233
Lancraft TM, Hopkins TL, Torres JJ, Donnelly J (1991) Oceanic micronektonic/ macrozooplanktonic community structure and feeding in ice covered Antarctic waters during the winter (AMERIEZ 1988). Polar Biol 11:157–167
Laws RM (1985) The ecology of the Southern Ocean. Am Sci 73:26–40
Macintosh NA (1972) Life cycle of Antarctic krill in relation to ice and water conditions. Discov Rep 36:1–94
Madin LP, Harbison GR (1977) The associations of Amphipoda Hyperiidae with gelatinous zooplankton. I. Associations with Salpidae. Deep Sea Res 24:449–463
Marr JWS (1962) The natural history and geography of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Discov Rep 32:33–464
Mayzaud P, Färber Lorda J, Corre MC (1985) Aspects of the nutritional metabolism of two Antarctic euphausiids, Euphausia superba and Thysanoessa macrura. In: Siegfried WR, Condy PR, Laws RM (eds) Antarctic Nutrient Cycles and Food Webs (Proceedings of the 4th SCAR symposium on antarctic biology). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 330–338
McGinnis RF (1982) Biogeography of lanternfishes (Myctophidae) south of 30°S. In: Pawson DL (ed) Antarctic research series, vol 35. Biology of the Antarctic Seas XII. American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, 110 pp
Miya M (1994) Cyclothone kobayashii, a new gonostomatid fish (Teleostei: Stomiiformes) from the Southern Ocean, with notes on its ecology. Copeia 1994:191–204
Mountain DG, Huber BA (1985) Water properties and chlorophyll distribution near the Scotia Sea ice edge, November 1983 (abstract). Eos Trans AGU 66:1270
Nast F (1982) The assessment of krill (Euphausia superba Dana) biomass from a net sampling programme. Meeresforschung 29:154–165
Nemoto T, Yoo KI (1970) An amphipod, (Parathemisto gaudichaudii) as food of the Antarctic Sei whale. Sci Rep Whales Res Inst 22:153–158
Nordhausen W (1994) Distribution and diel vertical migration of the euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica. Polar Biol 14:219–229
Pakhomov EA, Perissinotto R, Froneman PW (1999) Predation impact of carnivorous macrozooplankton and micronekton in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. J Mar Syt 19:47–64
Paterson SL, Sievers HA (1980) The Weddell-Scotia confluence. J Phys Oceanogr 10:1584–1610
Perissinotto R, Pakhomov EA (1998) Contribution of salps to carbon flux of marginal ice zone of the Lazarev Sea, southern ocean. Mar Biol 131:25–32
Piatkowski U (1985) Distribution, abundance and diurnal migration of macro-zooplankton in Antarctic surface waters. Meeresforsch 30:264–279
Piatkowski U, Rodhouse PG, White MG, Bone DG, Symon C (1994) Nekton community of the Scotia Sea as sampled by the RMT 25 during austral summer. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 112:13–28
Pusch C, Hulley PA, Kock K-H (2004) Community structure and feeding ecology of mesopelagic fishes in the slope waters of King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Deep Sea Res I 51:1685–1708
Robins DB, Harris RP, Bedo AW, Fernandez E, Fileman TW, Harbour DS, Head RN (1995) The relationship between suspended particulate material, phytoplankton and zooplankton during the retreat of the marginal ice zone in the Bellingshausen Sea. Deep Sea Res II 42:1137–1158
Schalk PH (1990) Biological activity in the Antarctic zooplankton community. Polar Biol 10:405–411
Schlitzer R (2005) Ocean Data View. http://www.awi-bremerhaven.de/GEO/ODV
Sheader M, Evans F (1975) Feeding and gut structure of Parathemisto gaudichaudii (Geurin) (Amphipoda, Hyperiidea). J Mar Biol Assoc UK 55:641–656
Siegel V (1988) A concept of seasonal variation of krill (Euphausia superba) distribution and abundance west of the Antarctic Peninsula. In: Sahrage D (ed) Antarctic ocean and resources variability. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 219–230
Siegel V, Skibowski A, Harm U (1992) Community structure of the epipelagic zooplankton community under the sea-ice of the northern Weddell Sea. Polar Biol 12:15–24
Smetacek V, Scharek R, Nöthig E-M (1990) Seasonal and regional variation in the pelagial and its relationship to the life history cycle of krill. In: Kerry KR, Hempel G (eds) Antarctic ecosystems. Ecological change and conservation. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 103–114
Smith WO Jr, Nelson DM (1985) Phytoplankton bloom produced by a receding ice edge in the Ross Sea: spatial coherence with the density field. Science 227:163–166
Smith WO Jr, Nelson DM (1990) Phytoplankton growth and new production in the Weddell Sea marginal ice zone in the austral spring and summer. Limnol Oceanogr 35:809–821
Smith WO Jr, Sakshaug E (1990) Polar phytoplankton. In: Smith WO Jr (ed) Polar oceanography, part B: chemistry, biology, and geology. Academic, San Diego, pp 477–525
Sprong I, Schalk PH (1992) Acoustic observations on krill spring-summer migration and patchiness in the northern Weddell Sea. Polar Biol 12:261–268
Stepien JC (1982) Zooplankton in the Weddell Sea, October-November 1981. Antarct J US 17:109–111
Sullivan CW, McClain CR, Comiso JC, Smith WO Jr (1988) Phytoplankton standing crops within an Antarctic ice edge assessed by satellite remote sensing. J Geophys Res 93:12487–12498
Torres JJ, Lancraft TM, Weigle BL, Hopkins TL (1984) Distribution and abundance of fishes and salps in relation to the marginal ice zone of the Scotia Sea, November and December 1983. Antarct J US 19:117–119
Torres JJ, Somero GN (1988) Vertical distribution and metabolism in Antarctic mesopelagic fishes. Comp Biochem Physiol 90B:521–528
Vinogradov ME (1966) Hyperiid amphipods (Amphipoda, Hyperiidea) of the world oceans. Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington DC, 632 pp
White MG, Piatkowski U (1993) Abundance, horizontal and vertical distribution of fish in eastern Weddell Sea micronekton. Polar Biol 13:41–53
Zar JH (1974) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 620 pp
Acknowledgements
We thank the captain and crew of the R/V Polar Duke for their expert field assistance. Thanks are also due to Renee Bishop, Scott Burghart, Liz Clarke, and Teresa Greely for their considerable help with sample collection and processing during the cruise. This study was supported by NSF OPP 9220493 and NSF OPP 9910100, both to J.J. Torres.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Donnelly, J., Sutton, T.T. & Torres, J.J. Distribution and abundance of micronekton and macrozooplankton in the NW Weddell Sea: relation to a spring ice-edge bloom. Polar Biol 29, 280–293 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0051-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0051-z