Abstract
Decapod larvae and early post-larvae were extracted from detailed vertically stratified samples taken during research cruises in the Irish Sea from April to early June 1988 and in the North Sea in June 1989. The total dry weight of decapods was 4 to 106 mg m-2 which represented 0.5 to 8.6% of the total dry weight of zooplankton. The vertical distributions of abundant species were examined in relation to physical and biological variables.Nephrops norvegicus andPagurus bernhardus were found nearer to the surface during the spring bloom in April than after the bloom in May. In the near-surface waters of the North Sea in June, larvae ofLiocarcinus spp. were more abundant than those of other decapods. Diel migrations varied, apparently due to differences in the physical structure of the water column and the distribution of potential food. Conventional migrations were modified or absent in stratified areas when near-surface concentrations of chlorophyll were present and in well-mixed water. Few significant ontogenetic variations were found. The most striking case was ofLiocarcinus spp. larvae during the day in stratified water in the North Sea, where the early zoeal stages (at a mean depth of <6 m), the fifth zoeae (15.5 m mean) and the megalopas (26.7 m mean) occupied different positions in the water column.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anger K (1984) Developmental and growth in larval and juvenileHyas coarctatus (Decapoda: Majidae) reared in the laboratory. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 19:115–123
Anger K (1989) Growth and exuvial loss during larval and early juvenile development of the hermit crabPagurus bernhardus reared in the laboratory. Mar Biol 103:503–511
Anger K, Püschel C (1986) Growth and exuviation of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) reared in the laboratory. Ophelia 25:157–167
Baan SM van der, Holthuis LB, Schreken B (1972) Decapoda and decapod larvae in the surface plankton of the southern North Sea near “Texel” lightship. Zool Bijdr 13: 75–97
Bodo FC, Razouls C, Thiriot A (1965) Étude dynamique et variations saisonnières du plancton de la région de Roscoff. II. Cah Biol mar 6:219–254
Brander KM, Dickson RR (1984) An investigation of the low level of fish production in the Irish Sea. Rapp P-v Réun Cons perm int Explor Mer 183:234–242
Brander KM, Thompson AB (1989) Diel differences in avoidance of three vertical profile sampling gears by herring larvae. J Plankton Res 11:775–784
Claustre H, Poulet SA, Williams R, Marty J-C, Coombs SH, Ben Mlih F, Happette AM, Martin-Jezequel V (1990) A biochemical investigation ofPhaeocystis sp. bloom in the Irish Sea. J mar Biol Ass UK 70:197–207
Coombs SH, Lindley JA, Fosh CM (1984) Vertical distribution of larvae of mackerelScomber scombrus and microplankton with some conclusions on feeding conditions and survey methods. FAO Fish Rep 291(3):939–956
Coombs SH, Nichols JH, Conway DVP, Milligan S, Halliday NC (1992) Food availabiligy for sprat larvae in the Irish Sea. J mar Biol Ass UK 72:821–834
Coombs SH, Robins DB, Conway DVP, Halliday NC, Pomroy AJ (1994) Suspended particulates in the Irish Sea and feeding conditions for fish larvae. Mar Biol 118:7–15
Coyle KO, Paul AJ (1990) Abundance and biomass of meroplankton during the spring bloom in an Alaskan Bay. Ophelia 32:199–210
Criales MM, Anger K (1986) Experimental studies on the larval development of the shrimpsCrangon crangon andCrangon allmanni. Holgoländer Meeresunters 40:241–265
Forward RB (1990) Behavioural responses of crustacean larvae to temperature change Biol Bull mar biol Lab, Woods Hole 178:195–204
Gurney AR (1982) The larval development ofCrangon crangon (Fabr 1795) (Crustacea: Decapoda). Bull Br Mus nat Hist (Zool) 42:247–262
Gurney R (1942) The larvae of the decapod crustacea. Ray Society, London
Harding D, Nichols JH (1987) Plankton surveys off the north-east coast of England in 1976: an introductory report and summary of results. Fish Res tech Rep Minist Agric Fish Fd 86:1–56
Lee AJ, Ramster RW (1981) Atlas of the seas around the British Isles. Fish Res tech Rep Ministr Agric Fish Fd 20: 4 pp, 51 sheets
Lindley JA (1986) Vertical distributions of decapod crustacean larvae and pelagic post-larvae over Great Sole Bank (Celtic Sea) in June 1983. Mar Biol 90:545–549
Lindley JA (1987) Continuous plankton records: the geographical distribution and seasonal cycles of decapod crustacean larvae and pelagic post-larvae in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. J mar Biol Ass UK 67:145–167
Lindley JA (1988) Estimating biomass and production of pelagic larvae of brachyuran decapods in western European shelf waters. J exp mar Biol Ecol 122:195–211
Lindley JA, Williams R, Hunt HG (1993) anomalous seasonal cycles of decapod crustacean larvae in the North sea plankton in an abnormally warm year. J exp mar Biol Ecol 172:46–65
McConnaughey RA, Sulkin SD (1984) Measuring the effects of thermoclines on the vertical migration of larvae ofCallinectes sapidus (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the laboratory. Mar Biol 81:139–145
Pingree RD, Griffiths DK (1978) Tidal fronts on the shelf-seas around the British Isles. J geophys Res 83:4615–4622
Radford PJ, Burkill PH, Collins NR, Williams R (1988) The validation and scientific assessment of an ecosystem model of the Bristol Channel. In: Marani A (ed) Advances in ecological modelling. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 427–442
Rees CB (1952) Continuous plankton records: the decapod larvae in the North Sea 1947–1949. Hull Bull mar Ecol 3:157–184
Rees CB (1955) Continuous plankton records: the decapod larvae in the North Sea 1950–51. Bull mar Ecol 4:69–80
Russell FS (1925) The vertical distribution of marine macroplankton. An observation on diurnal change. J mar biol Ass UK 13:769–809
Russell FS (1928) The vertical distribution of marine macroplankton. VI. Further observations on diurnal changes. J mar biol Ass UK 15:81–99
Russell FS (1931) The vertical distribution of marine macroplankton. XI. Further observations on diurnal changes. J mar biol Ass UK 17:767–784
Scrope-Howe S, Jones DA (1986) The vertical distribution of zooplankton in the western Irish Sea. Estuar cstl Shelf Sci 22:785–802
Sulkin SD (1984) Behavioral bases of depth regulation in larvae of brachyuran crabs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 15:181–205
Warwick RM, Collins NR, George CL, Gee JM (1986) Species size distribution in benthic and pelagic metazoa: evidence for interaction. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 34:63–68
Wehrtmann I (1989) Seasonal occurrence and abundance of caridean shrimp larvae at Helgoland, German Bight. Helgoländer Meeresunters 43:87–112
Williams R, Collins NR (1986) Seasonal composition of meroplankton and holoplankton in the Bristol Channel. Mar Biol 92:93–101
Williams R, Collins NR, Conway DVP (1983) The double LHPR system, a high speed micro- and macroplankton sampler. Deep-Sea Res 30:331–342
Williams R, Lindley JA (1980) Plankton of the Fladen Ground during FLEX 76. III. Vertical distribution, population dynamics and production ofCalanus finmarchicus (Crustacea: Copepoda). Mar Biol 60:47–56
Williamson DI (1956) The plankton in the Irish Sea 1951 and 1952. Bull mar Ecol 4:87–144
Williamson DI (1960) Crustacea, Decapoda: Larvae. VII. Caridea, family Crangonidae. Stenopidea. Fich Ident Zooplancton 98:1–5
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lindley, J.A., Williams, R. & Conway, D.V.P. Variability in dry weight and vertical distributions of decapod larvae in the Irish Sea and North Sea during the spring. Mar. Biol. 120, 385–395 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00680212
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00680212