Grazing rates and behaviors of Neocalanus plumchrus: implications for phytoplankton control in the subarctic Pacific

  • Michad R. Landry
  • Joyce M. Lehner-Fournier
Conference paper
Part of the Developments in Hydrobiology book series (DIHY, volume 47)

Abstract

Grazing rates and behaviors of the copcpod Neocalanus plumchrus were investigated in shipboard experiments during the first SUPER Program cruise (May, 1984). N. plumchrus can exploit cells in the 2 to 30 μm size range with equal clearance efficiency but displays considerable flexibility in responding to changes in concentration and size composition. Its functional response helps to stabilize phytoplankton at low densities. In 60-liter microcosms, a density of one copepod liter-1 was sufficient to maintain the ambient abundance and structure of the phytoplankton community for a week. In the absence of the copepod, phytoplankton bloomed to unnaturally high levels, and the community composition was dramatically altered. Despite its grazing potential. N. plumchrus was not present in sufficient density to control phytoplankton blooms in the subarctic Pacific. However, the copepod may have an important role in regulating the abundance of smaller grazers and the size structure of the phytoplankton community.

Key words

copepod Neocalanus grazing rates clearance efficiency phytoplankton control 
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1988

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michad R. Landry
    • 1
  • Joyce M. Lehner-Fournier
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of OceanographyUniversity of HawaiiHonoluluUSA
  2. 2.School of OceanographyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleUSA

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