Abstract
Depth-stratified samples, collected during a period where the water column was vertically mixed (March 2000) and a period of thermal stratification (September 2000), were analyzed in order to investigate the horizontal and vertical distribution patterns and composition of mesozooplankton, especially copepod species assemblages, in a pelagic (Ionian Sea) and a coastal area (Patraikos Gulf) of the eastern Mediterranean. Total mesozooplankton abundance and biomass were significantly lower in the highly oligotrophic offshore waters of the Ionian Sea when compared to the semi-enclosed Patraikos Gulf during both seasons. Small-sized copepods dominated the mesozooplankton community. An ‘offshore’ and a ‘coastal’ copepod assemblage were defined in the surface layer (0–50 m) only during March when differences in environmental conditions (i.e., temperature, salinity and fluorescence) were strong between the two areas. Copepod vertical community structure in offshore waters differed between sampling months. In March one assemblage (0–200 m) was mainly identified, while in September three distinct assemblages (0–50, 50–100 and 100–200 m) were observed, related to different vertical distribution patterns of the various copepod species. A pronounced seasonal change of the dominant copepods was evident in the surface layer, where strong differences in hydrological properties were observed from March to September. Below this layer, the copepod community was relatively stable showing decreasing seasonal differences with increasing depth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambler JW, Miller CB (1987) Vertical habitat partitioning by copepodites and adults of subtropical oceanic copepods. Mar Biol 94:561–577
Cassotti R, Landolfi A, Brunet C, D’Ortenzio F, Mangoni O, d’Alcala MR, Denis M (2003) Composition and dynamics of the phytoplankton of the Ionian Sea (eastern Mediterranean). J Geophys Res, C 108:art-8116
Christou ED (1998) Interannual variability of copepods in a Mediterranean coastal area (Saronikos Gulf, Aegean Sea). J Mar Syst 15:523–532
Clarke KR, Ainsworth M (1993) A method of linking multivariate community structure to environmental variables. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 92:205–219
Clarke KR, Warwick RM (1994) Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. Natural Environment Research Council, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth
Daly Yahia MN, Suissi S, Yahia-Kefi OD (2004) Spatial and temporal structure of planktonic copepods in the Bay of Tunis (Southwestern Mediterranean Sea). Zool Stud 43:366–375
Farstey V, Lazar B, Genin A (2002) Expansion and homogeneity of the vertical distribution of zooplankton in a very deep mixed layer. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 238:91–100
Field JG, Clarke KR, Warwick RM (1982) A practical strategy for analysing multispecies distribution patterns. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 8:37–52
Fragopoulu N, Lykakis JJ (1990) Vertical distribution and nocturnal migration of zooplankton in relation to the development of seasonal thermocline in Patraikos Gulf. Mar Biol 104:381–387
Fragopoulu N, Siokou-Frangou I, Christou ED, Mazzocchi MG (2001) Patterns of vertical distribution of Pseudocalanidae and Paracalanidae (Copepoda) in pelagic waters (0 to 300 m) of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Crustac Issues 74:49–68
Friligos N, Theocharis A, Georgopoulos D (1985) Preliminary physical and chemical observations during summer 1980 on a silled embayment in the Ionian Sea. Vie Milieu 35:115–125
Frost BW, Fleminger A (1968) A revision of the genus Clausocalanus (Copepoda, Calanoida) with remarks on distributional patterns in diagnostic characters. Bull Scripps Inst Oceanogr Univ Calif 12:1–235
Gauch Jr HG (1982) Multivariate analysis in community ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Hosie GW, Cochran TG (1994) Mesoscale distribution patterns of macrozooplankton communities in Prydz Bay, Antarctica—January to February 1991. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 106:21–39
Incze LS, Herbet D, Wolff N, Oakey N, Dye D (2001) Changes in copepod distributions associated with increased turbulence from wind stress. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 213:229–240
Isari S, Ramfos A, Somarakis S, Koutsikopoulos C, Kallianiotis A, Fragopoulu N (2006) Mesozooplankton distribution in relation to hydrology of the Northeastern Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean. J Plankt Res 28:241–255
Karakassis I, Eleutheriou A (1997) The continental shelf of Crete: structure of macrobenthic communities. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 160:185–196
Kouwenberg JHM (1994) Copepod distribution in relation to seasonal hydrographics and spatial structure in the North-western Mediterranean (Golfe du Lion). East Coast Shelf Sci 38:69–90
Kruskal JB, Wish M (1978) Multidimensional scaling. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills
Legadeuc Y, Boule M, Dodson JJ (1997) Effect of vertical mixing on the vertical distribution of copepods in coastal waters. J Plankton Res 19:1183–1204
Malanotte-Rizzoli P et al (1997) A synthesis of the Ionian Sea hydrography, circulation and water mass pathways during POEM-Phase I. Prog Oceanogr 39:153–204
Mazzocchi MG, Paffenhofer GA (1999) Swimming and feeding behaviour of the planktonic copepod Clausocalanus furcatus. J Plankton Res 21:1501–1518
Mazzocchi MG, Ribera d’Alcala M (1995) Reccurent patterns in zooplankton structure and succession in a variable coastal environment. ICES J Mar Sci 52:679–691
Mazzocchi MG, Christou ED, Fragopoulu N, Siokou-Frangou I (1997) Mesozooplankton distribution from Sicily to Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean): general aspects. Oceanol Acta 20:521–535
Mazzocchi MG, Nervegna D, D’Elia G, Di Capua I, Aguzzi L, Boldrin A (2003) Spring mesozooplankton communities in the epipelagic Ionian Sea in relation to the Eastern Mediterranean Transient. J Geophys Res, C 108:art-8114
Menard F, Dallot S, Thomas G, Braconnot JC (1994) Temporal fluctuations of two Mediterranean salp populations from 1967 to 1990. Analysis of the influence of environmental variables using a Markov chain model. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 104:139–152
Moutin T, Raimbault P (2002) Primary production, carbon export and nutrients availability in western and eastern Mediterranean Sea in early summer 1996 (MINOS cruise). J Mar Syst 33:273–288
Mullin MM, Brooks ER, Reid FMH, Napp J, Stewart EF (1985) Vertical structure of nearshore plankton off southern California: a storm and a larval fish food web. Fish Bull 83:151–170
NCMR (2001) Southern Adriatic and Ionian Seas network on the protection of the marine environment. Contract no. DG/XII-XIV/EU/FAIR CT-98/4044. Final techninal report 200 p
Nishida S (1985) Taxonomy and distribution of the family Oithonidae (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Bull Ocean Res Inst Univ Tokyo 20:1–167
Paffenhofer GA, Mazzocchi MG (2002) On some aspects of the behaviour of Oithona plumifera (Copepoda: Cyclopoida). J Plankton Res 24:129–135
Paffenhofer GA, Mazzocchi MG (2003) Vertical distribution of subtropical epiplanktonic copepods. J Plankton Res 15:1139–1156
Peralba A, Mazzocchi MG (2004) Vertical and seasonal distribution of eight Clausocalanus species (Copepoda: Calanoida) in oligotrophic waters. ICES J Mar Sci 61:645–653
de Puelles MLF, Pinot JM, Valencia J (2003) Seasonal and interannual variability of zooplankton community in waters off Mallorca (Balearic Sea, Western Mediterranean): 1994–1999. Oceanol Acta 26:673–686
Ramfos A, Somarakis S, Koutsikopoulos C, Fragopoulu N (2005a) Summer mesozooplankton distribution in coastal waters of central Greece (eastern Mediterranean) I Hydrology and group composition. J Mar Biolog Assoc UK 85:755–764
Ramfos A, Somarakis S, Koutsikopoulos C, Fragopoulu N (2005b) Summer mesozooplankton distribution in coastal waters of central Greece (eastern Mediterranean). II. Species assemblages. J Mar Biolog Assoc UK 85:765–774
Raymont JEG (1983) Plankton and productivity in the oceans, 2nd edn. Pergamon Press, Oxford
Ribera d’Alcala M, Conversano F, Corato F, Licandro P, Mangoni O, Marino D, Mazzocchi MG, Modigh M, Montresor M, Nardella M, Saggiomo V, Sarno D, Zingone A (2004) Seasonal patterns in plankton communities in a pluriannual time series at a coastal Mediterranean site (Gulf of Naples): an attempt to discern recurrences and trends. Sci Mar 68:65–83
Scotto di Carlo B, Ianora A, Fresi E, Hure J (1984) Vertical zonation patterns for Mediterranean copepods from the surface to 3000 m at a fixed station in the Tyrrhenian Sea. J Plankton Res 6:1031–1056
Scotto di Carlo B, Ianora A, Mazzocchi MG, Scardi M (1991) Atlantis II Cruise: uniformity of deep copepod assemblages in the Mediterranean Sea. J Plankton Res 13:263–277
Siokou-Frangou I (1996) Zooplankton annual cycle in a Mediterranean coastal area. J Plankton Res 18:203–223
Siokou-Frangou I, Christou ED, Fragopoulu N, Mazzocchi MG (1997) Mesozoolankton distribution from Sicily to Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean): II. Copepod assemblages. Oceanol Acta 20:537–548
Siokou-Frangou I, Bianchi M, Christaki U, Christou ED, Giannakourou A, Gotsis-Skretas O, Ignatiades L, Pagou K, Psarra S, Souvermezoglou E, Van Wambeke F, Zervakis V (2002) Carbon flow in the planktonic food web along a gradient of oligotrophy in the Aegean sea. J Mar Syst 33–34:335–353
Somarakis S, Drakopoulos PG, Filippou V (2002) Distribution and abundance of larval fish in the Northern Aegean Sea - Eastern Mediterranean - in relation to early summer oceanographic conditions. J Plankton Res 24:339–357
Sommer U, Stibor H (2002) Copepoda-Cladocera-Tunicata: the role of three major mesozooplankton groups in pelagic food webs. Ecol Res 17:161–174
Stergiou KI, Christou ED, Georgopoulos D, Zenetos A, Souvermezoglou E (1997) The Hellenic Seas: physics, chemistry, biology and fisheries. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu Rev 35:415–538
Theocharis A, Georgopoulos D, Lascaratos A, Nittis K (1993) Water masses and circulation in the central region of the Eastern Mediterranean: Eastern Ionian, South Aegean and Northwest Levantine, 1986–1987. Deep Sea Res II 40:1121–1142
Turner JT (2004) The importance of small planktonic copepods and their roles in pelagic marine food webs. Zool Stud 43:255–266
Turner JT, Dagg MJ (1983) Vertical distributions of continental shelf zooplankton in stratified and isothermal waters. Biol Ocean 3:1–40
Weikert H, Trinkaus S (1990) Vertical mesozooplankton abundance and distribution in the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea SE of Crete. J Plankton Res 12:601–628
Weikert H, Koppelmann R, Wiegratz S (2001) Evidence of episodic changes in deep-sea mesozooplankton abundance and composition in the Levantine Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). J Mar Syst 30:221–239
Williams R (1985) Vertical distribution of Calanus finmarchicus and C. helgolandicus in relation to the development of the seasonal thermocline in the Celtic Sea. Mar Biol 86:145–149
Acknowledgements
The present study was carried out in the framework of the European Union-funded project entitled ‘Southern Adriatic and Ionian Seas network on the protection of the marine environment. Contract no. DG/XII-XIV/EU/FAIR CT-98/4044’. The authors would like to thank the captain and the crew of the R/V ‘Aegaio’ as well as all participants in the two surveys for their support at sea as well as the two anonymous referees for their valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ramfos, A., Isari, S., Somarakis, S. et al. Mesozooplankton community structure in offshore and coastal waters of the Ionian Sea (eastern Mediterranean) during mixed and stratified conditions. Mar Biol 150, 29–44 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0326-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0326-0