Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Meso- and bathypelagic distribution and abundance of chaetognaths in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We conducted multinet sampling during winter and summer in the Southern Ocean (Atlantic sector) to investigate the effect of water mass, season and water depth on abundance and species composition of meso- and bathypelagic chaetognaths. Eukrohnia hamata (mean 115 ind. 1,000 m−3) and Sagitta marri (mean 51 ind. 1,000 m−3) were dominant, complemented by E. bathypelagica (mean 19 ind. 1,000 m−3) and E. bathyantarctica (mean 19 ind. 1,000 m−3) below 1,000 m. A further six species were identified, among them the rare bathypelagic species Heterokrohnia fragilis and the subtropical Eukrohnia macroneura that is new to the Antarctic. Water depth and season were the principal determinants of abundance and species composition patterns, indicating vertical seasonal migration and vertical segregation of species. The life cycles of E. hamata and S. marri were studied additionally. Their maturity stages were vertically segregated and prolonged reproductive periods are suggested for both species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agresti A (2002) Categorial data analysis. Wiley-Interscience, New York, p 734

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Alvariño A (1962) Two new pacific chaetognaths. Their distribution and relationship to allied species. Bull Scripps Inst Oceanogr 8:1–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvariño A (1964) Bathymetric distribution of chaetognaths. Pac Sci 18:64–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvariño A (1969) Los Quetognatos del Atlantico. Distribucion y notas esenciales de sistematica. Trab Inst Esp Oceanogr 37:1–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvariño A, Hosmer SC, Ford RF (1983a) Antarctic Chaetognatha: United States Antarctic Research Program Eltanin cruises 8–28, Part 1. Antarct Res Ser 34:129–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvariño A, Verfaillie DF, Ford RF (1983b) Antarctic Chaetognatha: United States Antarctic Research Program Eltanin cruises 10–23, 25 and 27, Paper 2. Antarct Res Ser 39:69–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecka L, Zmijewska MI (1993) Chaetognatha of Drake Passage and Bransfield Strait (December 1983–January 1984, BIOMASS–SIBEX). Pol Polar Res 14:65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieri R (1959) The distribution of the planktonic Chaetognatha in the Pacific and their relationship to the water masses. Limnol Oceanogr 4:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Blachowiak-Samolyk K, Bielecka L, Zmijewska MI (1995) Population structure of Chaetognatha in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Pol Polar Res 16:163–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone Q, Kapp H, Pierrot-Bults AC (1991) Introduction and relationship of the group. In: Bone Q, Kapp H, Pierrot-Bults AC (eds) The biology of chaetognaths. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 1–4

  • Casanova J-P (1986) Deux nouvelles espèces d’Eukrohnia (Chaetognathes) de l’Atlantique sud-tropical africain. Bull Mus Natl Hist Nat 8:819–833

    Google Scholar 

  • Casanova J-P (1999) Chaetognatha. In: Boltovskoy D (ed) South Atlantic Zooplankton. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 1353–1374

    Google Scholar 

  • David PM (1955) The distribution of Sagitta gazellae Ritter-Záhony. Discov Rep 27:235–278

    Google Scholar 

  • David PM (1958a) The distribution of the Chaetognatha of the Southern Ocean. Discov Rep 29:199–228

    Google Scholar 

  • David PM (1958b) A new species of Eukrohnia from the Southern Ocean with a note on fertilization. Proc Zool Soc Lond 131:597–606

    Google Scholar 

  • David PM (1964) The distribution of Antarctic chaetognaths. In: Carrick R, Holdgate M, Prevost J (eds) Biologie Antarctique. Hermann, Paris, pp 253–256

    Google Scholar 

  • David PM (1965) The Chaetognatha of the Southern Ocean. In: Mieghen JV, Oye PV (eds) Biogeography and ecology in Antarctica. Junk Press, Hague, pp 296–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson JK (1968) Chaetognaths from the Arctic Basin, including the description of a new species of Heterokrohnia. Bull South Calif Acad Sci 67:112–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Dilling L, Alldredge AL (1993) Can chaetognath fecal pellets contribute significantly to carbon flux? Mar Ecol Prog Ser 92:51–58. doi:10.3354/meps092051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinofrio EO (1973) Resultados planctologicos de la campana Oceantar I-1. Quetognatos. Contrib Inst Antarct Argent 154:1–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Duró A, Gili J-M (2001) Vertical distribution and abundance of juvenile chaetognaths in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica). Polar Biol 24:66–69. doi:10.1007/s003000000181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duró A, Sabatés A, Gili J-M (1999) Mesoscale spatial distribution of chaetognaths along hydrographic gradients in the South Scotia Sea (Antarctica). Polar Biol 22:195–206. doi:10.1007/s003000050410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everitt BS, Landau S, Leesek M (2001) Cluster analysis. Oxford University Press, London, p 248

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagetti EG (1968) New record of Eukrohnia bathyantarctica David 1958, from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Bull Mar Sci 18:383–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagetti EG (1972) Bathymetric distribution of chaetognaths in the South Eastern Pacific Ocean. Mar Biol 17:7–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Froneman PW, Pakhomov EA (1998) Trophic importance of the chaetognaths Eukrohnia hamata and Sagitta gazellae in the pelagic system of the Prince Edward Islands (Southern Ocean). Polar Biol 19:242–249. doi:10.1007/s003000050241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen W (1985) On distribution and population structure of Antarctic Chaetognatha. Meeresforsch 30:280–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson TB, Terazaki M (2003) Species composition and depth distribution of chaetognaths in a Kurashio warm-core ring and Oyashio water. J Plankton Res 25:1279–1289. doi:10.1093/plankt/fbg085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson TB, Terazaki M (2004) Chaetognath ecology in relation to hydrographic conditions in the Australian sector of the Antarctic Ocean. Polar Biosci 17:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Kapp H (1991a) Archeterokrohnia Casanova, 1986, a junior synonym of Heterokrohnia Ritter-Záhony, 1911 (Chaetognatha), with a review of the species of Heterokrohnia. Helgol Meeresunters 45:237–252. doi:10.1007/BF02365644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kapp H (1991b) Some aspects of buoyancy adaptations of chaetognaths. Helgolander Meeresunters 45:263–267. doi:10.1007/BF02365646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramp PL (1939) The Godthaab Expedition 1928. Chaetognatha. Medd Gronl 80:3–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruse S (2009) Population structure and reproduction of Eukrohnia bathyantarctica and Eukrohnia bathypelagica, deep sea chaetognaths in the Lazarev Sea, Southern Ocean. Polar Biol. doi:10.1007/s00300-009-0633-2

  • O’Sullivan D (1982) A guide to the chaetognaths of the Southern Ocean and adjacent waters. Anare Res Notes 2:1–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Øresland V (1990) Feeding and predation impact of the chaetognath Eukrohnia hamata in Gerlache Strait, Antarctic Peninsula. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 63:201–209. doi:10.3354/meps063201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Øresland V (1995) Winter population structure and feeding of the chaetognath Eukrohnia hamata and the copepod Euchaeta antarctica in Gerlache Strait, Antarctic Peninsula. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 119:77–86. doi:10.3354/meps119077

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pakhomov EA, Perissinotto R, Froneman PW (1999) Predation impact of carnivorous macrozooplankton and micronekton in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. J Mar Syst 19:47–64. doi:10.1016/S0924-7963(98)00023-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pakhomov EA, Perissinotto R, McQuaid CD, Froneman PW (2000) Zooplankton structure and grazing in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in late austral summer 1993. Part 1. Ecological zonation. Deep Sea Res Part I Oceanogr Res Pap 47:1663–1686. doi:10.1016/S0967-0637(99)00122-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearre S (1991) Growth and reproduction. In: Bone Q, Kapp H, Pierrot-Bults AC (eds) The biology of chaetognaths. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 61-75

  • Piatkowski U (1985) Distribution, abundance and diurnal migration of macrozooplankton in Antarctic surface waters. Meeresforsch 30:264–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierrot-Bults AC, Nair VR (1991) Distribution patterns in chaetognatha. In: Bone Q, Kapp H, Pierrot-Bults AC (eds) The biology of chaetognaths. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 86–116

  • Ritter-Záhony R von (1911) Revision der Chätognathen. Deutsche Südpolar-Expeditionen 13. 8:1–71

  • Rottmann ML (1978) Ecology of recurrent groups of pteropods, euphausiids, and chaetognaths in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. Mar Biol 48:63–78. doi:10.1007/BF00390532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sameoto DD (1987) Vertical distribution and ecological significance of chaetognaths in the Arctic environment of Baffin Bay. Polar Biol 7:317–328. doi:10.1007/BF00293222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schröder M, Fahrbach E (1999) On the structure and the transport of the eastern Weddell Gyre. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr 46:501–527. doi:10.1016/S0967-0645(98)00112-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1981) Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research, 2nd edn. Freeman and company, San Francisco, p 859

    Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan BK (1980) In situ feeding behaviour of Sagitta elegans and Eukrohnia hamata (Chaetognatha) in relation to the vertical distribution and abundance of prey at Ocean station “P”. Limnol Oceanogr 25:317–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tchindonova YG (1955) Chaetognatha of the Kurile-Kamchatka trench. Tr Inst Okeanologii 12:298–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Terazaki M (1989) Distribution of chaetognaths in the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean during the Biomass Sibex Cruise (KH-83–4). Proc NIPR Symp Polar Biol 2:51–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Terazaki M (1991) Deep sea chaetognaths. In: Bone Q, Kapp H, Pierrot-Bults AC (eds) The biology of chaetognaths. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 117–121

  • Terazaki M (1996) Vertical distribution of pelagic chaetognaths and feeding of Sagitta enflata in the Central Equatorial Pacific. J Plankton Res 18:673–682. doi:10.1093/plankt/18.5.673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiel ME (1938) Die Chaetognathen-Bevölkerung des Südatlantischen Ozeans. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Atlantischen Expedition “Meteor“ 1925–1927. 13:1–110

  • Timofeev SF (1998) Reproduction of the chaetognath Eukrohnia hamata (Möbius 1875) in the Arctic Ocean. Rep Polar Mar Res 287:70–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Timonin AG (1968) Distribution of chaetognaths in the Southern Ocean. Oceanology (Mosc) 8:702–709

    Google Scholar 

  • Voronina NM (1968) The distribution of zooplankton in the Southern Ocean and its dependence on the circulation of water. Sarsia 34:277–284

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the captain and the crew of the RV “Polarstern” for their support. We also thank Ruth Alheit who helped with the deployment of the multinet during ANT 23-6. Special thanks go to Helga Kapp for giving an introduction into Antarctic chaetognaths taxonomy. Helpful comments by Ruth Alheit, Helga Kapp, Bettina Meyer, Richard Crawford and three anonymous reviewers are highly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Svenja Kruse, Ulrich Bathmann & Thomas Brey

Authors
  1. Svenja Kruse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ulrich Bathmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas Brey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Svenja Kruse.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kruse, S., Bathmann, U. & Brey, T. Meso- and bathypelagic distribution and abundance of chaetognaths in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol 32, 1359–1376 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-009-0632-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-009-0632-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation