Mesozooplankton composition and distribution in relation to oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of Cádiz, Spain.

Two surveys were conducted during July 1994 and July 1995 in the Gulf of Cadiz with the aim of assessing temporal and spatial patterns in biomass (ZDV, zooplankton displacement volume) and mesozooplankton composition and their relationships with the oceanographic conditions. Differences between two...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Mafalda, Paulo, Pérez-Rubín Feigl, Juan, Sampaio-de-Souza, Christiane
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2007
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/320393
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/320393
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Medio Marino
Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga
Mesozooplankton
Cladocera
biomass
spatial distribution
Gulf of Cádiz (Spain)
Atlantic
mesozooplancton
cladóceros
biomasa zooplancton
distribución espacial
Golfo de Cádiz (España)
Atlántico
Description
Summary:Two surveys were conducted during July 1994 and July 1995 in the Gulf of Cadiz with the aim of assessing temporal and spatial patterns in biomass (ZDV, zooplankton displacement volume) and mesozooplankton composition and their relationships with the oceanographic conditions. Differences between two successive summer seasons were found in this study. The upper water column was warmer and more saline in 1994. Mesozooplankton abundance and biomass were higher in 1994 than in 1995. However, the occurrence of several plankton species was remarkably regular. In the two summers, cladocerans were the most abundant group followed by copepods and appendicularians. The dominance of cladocerans in the two summers was basically due to the high abundance of Penilia avirostris. The study of trends showed that the relative abundance of copepods increased throughout the summers, although this increase was significant only in the north inshore sites, where the influence of Atlantic water is higher. The mesozooplankton abundance and, specifically, Cladocera density showed a positive correlation with temperature and ZDV but showed a negative correlation with salinity and depth, ZDV, Copepoda and Appendicularia density did not show a significant relationship with oceanographic variables.