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Distribution of tintinnid species from 42° N to 43° S through the Indian Ocean

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Abstract

Taking advantage of the transfer of the Italian R/V “Italica” from Italy to New Zealand for the Italian Research Expedition in the Antarctic, surface sampling of plankton was carried out from 42°N to 43°S from 14 November to 16 December 2001. Collaboration between several Italian research groups resulted in the Mediterranean, Indian and Pacific Ocean Transect (MIPOT), aimed to merge oceanographic measurements with remotely sensed data and to study latitudinal changes in plankton communities. We present preliminary results on the tintinnids (abundance and species composition) along the MIPOT1 transect. Tintinnid distributions and food vacuole contents are discussed in relation to chlorophyll concentrations and contribution of phytoplankton size classes. Generally, chlorophyll concentrations were well below 0.5 mg m−3 and tintinnid numbers were only a few tens per liter. Eighty-six tintinnid species belonging to 27 genera were recorded. Highest diversity and number of tintinnid species occurred in the warm-water regions, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Tropic of Capricorn. Shannon diversity index ranged from 1.0 (Tasman Sea) up to 2.9 (tropical Indian Ocean). Each of the oceanic provinces showed a well defined tintinnid assemblage, a tintinnid ‘fingerprint’ characterizing each area. Data are compared to previous records for the different areas and the persistence in time of typical tintinnid species is discussed.

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  1. Zoological Station “A. Dohrn”, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy

    M. Modigh, S. Castaldo, M. Saggiomo & I. Santarpia

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  1. M. Modigh
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  2. S. Castaldo
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  3. M. Saggiomo
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  4. I. Santarpia
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Modigh, M., Castaldo, S., Saggiomo, M. et al. Distribution of tintinnid species from 42° N to 43° S through the Indian Ocean. Hydrobiologia 503, 251–262 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000008477.38383.d6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000008477.38383.d6

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