Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial and temporal variations of pelagic copepods in the North Yellow Sea

  • Published:
Journal of Ocean University of China Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal variations of the abundance and biodiversity of pelagic copepods and their relationships with the environmental factors in the North Yellow Sea (NYS). These variations were analyzed on the basis of the survey data of the NYS in four seasons from 2006 to 2007. A total of 31 copepod species that belong to 17 genera, 13 families and 4 orders were identified in the four seasons. Of these copepods, the species belonging to Calanoida is the most abundant component. The dominant species include Calanus sinicus, Centropages abdominalis, Paracalanus parvus, Acartia bifilosa, Oithona plumifera, and Corycaeus affinis. C. sinicus is the most important and widely distributed dominant species in all of the seasons. The dominant species have not shown any significant variation for the past 50 years. However, the richness of warm-water species increased. The abundance of copepods significantly varied among different seasons: the average abundance was higher in spring (608.2 ind m−3) and summer (385.1 ind m−3) than in winter (186.5 ind m−3) and autumn (128.0 ind m−3). Factor analyses showed a high correlation between the spatial distributions of dominant copepods and environmental parameters, and Chl-a was the most important factor that influenced the distribution of copepods. This research can provide the fundamental information related to zooplankton, especially pelagic copepods. This research is also beneficial for the long-term monitoring of zooplankton ecology in the NYS.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bao, X. W., Li, N., Yao, Z. G., and Wu, D. X., 2009. Seasonal variation characteristics of temperature and salinity of the North Yellow Sea. Periodical of Ocean University of China, 39 (4): 553–562 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bi, H. S., Sun, S., Gao, S. W., and Zhang, F., 2000. The ecological characteristics of the zooplankton community in the Bohai Sea I. Species composition and community structure. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 20 (5): 715–731 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugnano, C., Granata, A., Guglielmo, L., and Zagami, G., 2012. Spring diel vertical distribution of copepod abundances and diversity in the open Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Journal of Marine Systems, 105–108: 207–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Q. C., and Zhang, S. Z., 1965. The planktonic copepods of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. I. Calanoida. Studia Marina Sinica, 7: 20–131 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, C., Cheng, T. C., Wang, R., Ling, Y. R., and Gao, S. W., 1965. Ecological investigations on the zooplankton of the mackerel fishing ground off Yentai-Weihai and adjacent waters. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 7 (4): 329–354 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R., and Warwick, R. M., 2001. Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation, 2nd edtion, Primer-E Ltd, 1–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comprehensive Survey Office of Ocean Group of Committee of Science and Technology of the People Republic of China. 1977. Study on plankton in China Seas. Scientific Reports of ‘Comprehensive Oceanography Expedition in China Seas’, 8: 1–159 (in Chinese).

  • Franco, P., Chen, H. J., and Liu, G. X., 2014. Distribution and abundance of pelagic tunicates in the North Yellow Sea. Journal of Ocean University of China, 13 (5): 782–790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallienne, C. P., and Robins, D. B., 2001. Is Oithona the most important copepod in the world’s ocean? Journal of Plankton Research, 23 (12): 1421–1432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González, H. E., and Smetacek, V., 1994. The possible role of the cyclopoid copepod Oithona in retarding vertical flux of zooplankton faecal material. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 113: 233–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirst, A. G., and Bunker, A. J., 2003. Growth of marine planktonic copepods: Global rates and patterns in relation to chlorophyll a, temperature, and body weight. Limnology and Oceanography, 48 (5): 1988–2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh, C. H, Chiu, T. S., and Shih, C. T., 2004. Copepod diversity and composition as indicators of intrusion of the Kuroshio branch current into the northern Taiwan Strait in spring 2000. Zoological Studies, 43: 393–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, C., Uye, S., and Onbe, T., 1993. Geographic distribution, seasonal life cycle, biomass and production of a planktonic copepod Calanus sinicus in the Inland Sea of Japan and its neighboring Pacific Ocean. Journal of Plankton Research, 15: 1229–1246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, D., and Uye, S., 1996. Population dynamics and production of the planktonic copepods in a eutrophic inlet of the Inland Sea of Japan. III. Paracalanus sp. Marine Biology, 127: 219–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, D., Uye, S., and Onbe, T., 1996. Population dynamics and production of the planktonic copepods in a eutrophic inlet of the Inland Sea of Japan. I. Centropages abdominalis. Marine Biology, 124: 527–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maar, M., Møller, E. F., Gürkan, Z., Jónasdóttir, S. H., and Nielsen, T. G., 2013. Sensitivity of Calanus spp. copepods to environmental changes in the North Sea using life-stage structured models. Progress in Oceanography, 111: 24–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paffenhöfer, G. A., 1993. On the ecology of marine cyclopoid copepods (Crustacea, Copepoda). Journal of Plankton Research, 15: 37–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porri, F., McQuaid, C. D., and Froneman, W. P., 2007. Spatiotemporal variability of small copepods (especially Oithona plumifera) in shallow nearshore waters off the south coast of South Africa. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 72: 711–720.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pu, X. M., Sun, S., Yang, B., Zhang, G. T., and Zhang, F., 2004. Life history strategies of Calanus sinicus in the southern Yellow Sea in summer. Journal of Plankton Research, 26 (9): 1059–1068.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, Y. S., 1989. A survey of geographical environment circulation system in the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea. Journal of Ocean University of Qingdao, 19 (1): 145–158 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, X. H., Sun, S., Li, C. L., and Wang, S. W., 2009. The effects of temperature and diet on egg production and hatching success of Acartia bifilosa (Copepoda: Calanoida): A laboratory investigation. Studia Marina Sinica, 49: 78–86 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Temperoni, B., Viñas, M. D., Martos, P., and Marrari, M., 2014. Spatial patterns of copepod biodiversity in relation to a tidal front system in the main spawning and nursery area of the Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi. Journal of Marine Systems, 139: 433–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. T., 2004. The importance of small planktonic copepods and their roles in pelagic marine food webs. Zoological Studies, 43: 255–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L., Li, C. L., and Yu, F., 2013. Zooplankton community structure in the South Yellow Sea in winter and indication of the Yellow Sea Warm Current. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 44 (4): 853–859 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, R., Gao, S. W., Wang, K., and Zuo, T., 2003. Zooplankton indication of the Yellow Sea Warm Current in winter. Journal of Fisheries of China, 27 (Suppl): 39–48 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y. L., Shen, X. Q., Li, C. H., Yuan, Q., Gui, C. S., and Li, C. S., 2005. Plankton in Chinese Shelf and Adjacent Areas. Shanghai Science and Technology Press, Shanghai, 118–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, W. K., 1991. The ecological character of Centropages memurrichi in the Yellow Sea. Chinese Journal of Zoology, 26 (3): 1–5 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiau, Y. C., 1979. Preliminary studies on the ecological characteristics of the zooplankton of the Yellow Sea. Transactions of Oceanology and Limnology, 2: 51–55 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, L. L., Wu, D. X., Lin, X. P., and Ma, C., 2009. The study of the Yellow Sea Warm Current and its seasonal variability. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 21 (2): 159–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Z. L., and Chen, Y. Q., 1989. Aggregated intensity of dominant species of zooplankton in autumn in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. Journal of Ecology, 8 (4): 13–15 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Z. L., Cui, X. S., and Chen, W. Z., 2004. Species composition and dominant species study on pelagic copepods in the East China Sea. Journal of Fisheries of China, 28 (1): 35–40 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Q., Wang, Z. L., Fan, J. F., Shao, K. S., and Li, H. J., 2012. Zooplankton diversity and its variation in the Northern Yellow Sea in the autumn and winter of 1959, 1982 and 2009. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 32 (21): 6747–6754 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Shi, X. Y., Zhang, C. S., and Wang, L. S., 2009. Distribution feature s of nutrients structure and nutrient limitation in the North of Yellow Sea. Periodical of Ocean University of China, 39 (4): 773–780 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China

    Hongju Chen & Guangxing Liu

  2. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China

    Hongju Chen, Guangxing Liu, Yanzhong Zhu & Qiang Jiang

  3. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Estuary and Coastal Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, P. R. China

    Yanzhong Zhu

Authors
  1. Hongju Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guangxing Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanzhong Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qiang Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guangxing Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, H., Liu, G., Zhu, Y. et al. Spatial and temporal variations of pelagic copepods in the North Yellow Sea. J. Ocean Univ. China 14, 1003–1012 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-015-2787-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-015-2787-6

Key words

Search

Navigation