Distribution patterns of appendicularians and copepods and their relationship on the northwest continental shelf of South China Sea during summer

The potential suppression of copepods on appendicularians was found in field and experimental conditions. The abundance and distribution of appendicularians and planktonic copepods were studied with reference to their correlations during summer on the northwest continental shelf of the South China Sea (SCS). Based on the topography and water mass of the surveyed region, it was divided into three sub-regions: Region I (inshore waters of the east Leizhou Peninsula) with low temperature, salinity and high chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, Region II (inshore waters of the east and southeast Hainan Island) with low temperature, high salinity and moderate Chl a concentration and Region III (offshore waters from the Leizhou Peninsula to Hainan Island) with high temperature, high salinity and low Chl a concentration. The species richness of appendicularians and copepods increased from the inshore to offshore waters, and high values were observed in Region III. The distribution of appendicularian and copepod abundance decreased generally from the inshore to offshore waters, with the highest values at Region I. Our results suggest that the distribution patterns of appendicularians and copepods differed significantly, as a result of the influence of physical and biological factors. The negative impact of pelagic copepods on appendicularians was not found based on in situ data in the northwest continental shelf of SCS.     

黄海中部太平洋磷虾的大小组成和丰度分布的季节变化及其与环境因子的关系

The seasonal size structure and spatial abundance distributions of Euphausia pacifica populations were investigated in the central part of southern Yellow Sea from August 2009 to May 2010.The abundance and biomass of E.pacifica were higher in spring and summer,and lower in autumn and winter.The mean abundance and biomass(calculated by carbon)were 74.94 ind./m~3 and 8.23 mg/m~3,respectively.Females with total length(TL)ranging between 10 and 19 mm in summer had a substantial contribution to the population biomass,whereas larvae of TL of 3–7 mm in spring were the main contributor to the population abundance.The sex ratio(female:male)showed a female bias in four seasons.Its value peaked in summer,and then decreased in autumn,spring,and winter successively.Cohort analysis revealed that the length-frequency distribution of E.pacifica could be characterized as one group with large animals(mean TL12 mm)accompanied by one or two subgroups of small individuals(mean TL7 mm).Regarding the spatial distribution,juveniles and adults of E.pacifica tend to concentrate in relatively deep water with low temperature(～11℃)and high salinity(32),whereas its larvae showed more abundance in inshore water with rich chlorophyll a,low salinity(32),and warm temperature(11℃),especially in summer and autumn.Associations changed seasonally between stage-specific abundance and environmental factors.     

Distribution of meiofaunal abundance in relation to environmental factors in Beibu Gulf, South China Sea

This study aims to explore the distribution of meiofaunal abundance in relation to environmental factors in the Beibu Gulf,a natural semi-enclosed part of the South China Sea,surrounded by China and Vietnam.Meiofauna and ten benthic environmental factors were determined at 27 sampling stations in the Beibu Gulf in four surveys during 2006-2007.The results show a clear geographical trend in meiofaunal abundance,water depth,salinity and clay content.The meiofaunal abundance and the clay content decreased,whereas the water depth and the salinity increased from the north to the south of the Gulf.The percentage of meiofaunal abundance in the 0-2 cm layer increased,whereas in the 2-5 cm and 5-10 cm layers it decreased from the north to the south of the Gulf.Correlation analysis show significant negative correlations between meiofaunal abundance and water depth,benthic temperature,salinity and pH,but significant positive correlations between meiofaunal abundance and dissolved oxygen,chlorophyll a and clay content.     

The distribution of phytoplankton size and major influencing factors in the surface waters near the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula

The waters near the Antarctic Peninsula have always been a study hot spot because of their variable and unique oceanographic conditions.To determine the distribution and possible influencing factors on phytoplankton size and abundance near the Antarctic Peninsula,a large-scale survey was conducted during the austral summer of2018.Samples were collected in 27 stations located in the Drake Passage(DP),South Shetland Islands(SSI),and South Orkney Islands(SOI).Phytoplankton communities were described using chlorophyll a(Chl a),flow cytometry and light microscopy to cover a size range from pico-to microphytoplankton.Nanophytoplankton,especially small nanophytoplankton(2-6 μm) with abundance ranging from 0.66 ×10~3 cells/mL to 8.46 ×10~3 cells/mL,was predominant throughout the study area.Among different regions,there was an obvious size shift.The proportion of picophytoplankton near the Elephant Island(EI) and DP was higher than other regions,and larger cells were found mainly in east of SOI.The distribution of phytoplankton abundance detected by flow cytometry was not completely consistent with Chl a concentrations due to the contribution of larger cells to Chl a.Possible influencing factors on the phytoplankton size distribution were discussed.The properties of water masses such as temperature and salinity can influence the phytoplankton size distribution.Correlation analysis revealed that only picophytoplankton is significantly correlated with salinity.Light and Fe availability might affect phytoplankton abundance and size distribution especially near the waters of SSI and EI in this study.It was also speculated that the abundance of cryptophytes is possibly related to ice melting.     

Dynamics of picoplankton in the Nansha Islands area of the South China Sea

Dynamics of major picoplankton groups, Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro), picoeukaryotes (Euk) and heterotrophic bacteria (Bact) was investigated by flow cytometry for the first time in the Nansha Islands area in the South China Sea. Averaged over the whole investigation area, depth-weighted integrated cell abundance (DWA) of Syn, Pro, Euk and Bact was 1.6 (0.4-5.7)×103, 5.4 (0.1-7.3)×104, 0.7 (0.2-2.2)×103, and 2.3 (1.4-3.2)×105 cells/mL respectively. Picoautotrophic cell abundance was low in the northwest part of the Nansha Islands where surface water temperature was low and the upper mixed layer was shallow. Concurrently, a surface maximum vertical distribution pattern was observed in this area. While in the southeast and east zones where temperatures were relatively higher and nitraclines were deeper, picoplankton is abundant and a subsurface maximum around 50-75 m is observed. Coupling of horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of picoplankton abundance and hydrological status wa     

Distribution pattern of marine flagellate and its controlling factors in the central and north part of the Huanghai Sea in early summer

Abstract-A survey was carried out in the central and north part of the Huanghai Sea (34.5°～37.0°N, 120.5°～124.0°E) during June 12～27, 2000. It was found that the abundance of marineflagellate ranged from 45 to 1278 cell/ml, 479 cell/ml in average. Flagellate was more abundant in thecentral part than in the north part of Huanghai Sea, and the abundance decreased with the increasingdistance from the coast, showing a similar distribution pattern with isotherm. Vertically, high densityof flagellate was always presented in the bottom of thermocline, and formed a dense accumulation in thecentral area of the Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass. The effects of physical and biological factors on thedistribution of marine flagellate in early summer were discussed. Water temperature (especially the ex-istence of thermocline) rather than salinity showed significant effect on the distribution pattern of marineflagellate in the Huanghai Sea in early summer. When comparing the abundance of marine flagellatewith that o     

西北太平洋环境变化对柔鱼冬春生群体资源丰度的影响

During 1995–2011, annual production of winter-spring cohort of Ommastrephes bartramii for Chinese squidjigging fishery has greatly fluctuated, which is closely related to the environmental conditions on the spawning and fishing grounds. To better understand how squid recruitment and abundance were influenced by ocean environmental conditions, biological and physical environmental variables including sea surface temperature(SST), SST anomaly(SSTA), chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentration and the Kuroshio Current were examined during years with the highest(1999), intermediate(2005), and lowest(2009) catches. Catch per unit effort(CPUE) of the squid-jigging vessels was used as an indicator of squid abundance. The results indicated that high SST and Chl a concentration on the spawning ground in 1999 resulted in favorable incubation and feeding conditions for squid recruitment. Whereas the suitable spawning zone(SSZ) in 2009 shifted southward and coincided with low SST and Chl a concentration, resulting in a reduction in the squid recruitment. The small difference of SSZ area in the three years suggested the SSZ provided limited influences on the variability in squid recruitment. Furthermore,high squid abundance in 1999 and 2005 was associated with warm SSTA on the fishing ground. While the cool SSTA on the fishing ground in 2009 contributed to adverse habitat for the squid, leading to extremely low abundance. It was inferred that strengthened intensity of the Kuroshio force generally yielded favorable environmental conditions for O. bartramii. Future research are suggested to focus on the fundamental research on the early life stage of O. bartramii and mechanism of how the ocean-climate variability affects the squid abundance and spatial distribution by coupling physical model with squid biological process to explore transport path and abundance distribution.     

Study of zooplankton ecology in Zhejiang coastal upwelling system-Zooplankton biomass and abundance of major groups

The studied area is a shallow water area that belongs to the East China Sea continent shelf. The distribution of zooplankton biomass is higher inshore than offshore. The maximum abundance is in the inshore edge of the centre of upwelling, which is the superposed area of the salinity front and temperature front, due to the fact that the mixture of three different waters has brought about a concentration of nutrients. The herbivorous Euphausia, Copepoda and Tunicata are the major groups of the abundant area. Tunicata possess the possibility to compete against other kinds of herbivorous zooplankton. This means that there is negative correlation between the distribution of Tunicata and that of Copepoda and Euphausia. The positions of maximum areas of zooplankton biomass, phytoplankton individual and the concentration of phosphates and chlorophyll-a overlap one another. In the centre of upwelling, zooplankton can not adapt itself to the environment of lower temperature and less oxygen even with rich nutrient     

Heterotrophic bacteria of the Dapeng Bay in the South China Sea: community structure, abundance, and the relationships of culturablity with environmental factors

The community composition,abundance and culturablity of heterotrophic bacterioplankton in the Dapeng Bay of the South China Sea were investigated by morphological method,bacterial cultivation and biochemical methods over an annual cycle.Aeromonas and Pseudomonas were the predominant genera among the Gram-negative bacteria.The bacterioplankton abundance fluctuated from 2.07×10 8 to 2.44×10 9 cells/dm 3 ,and culturable bacteria abundance ranged between 0.1×10 6 and 16.07×10 6 CFU/dm 3 .The Culturablity of heterotrophic bacteria ranged between 0.01% and 1.31%.The relationship between bacterial culturablity and the environmental factors was also studied in different sites of the Dapeng Bay.Throughout the bay,a significantly positive relationship was evidenced between bacterial culturability and temperature,meanswhile bacterial culturability was significantly inversely related with salinity.The positive relationship was shown at the central bay while a negative relationship was observed at the bay mouth and there was no significant correlation at top bay between bacterial culturablity and chlorophyll a of sea water.A positive relationship was found between culturability and DIN all the bay,but DIP showed a significantly negative relationship with bacterial culturability only at the mouth of the bay.     

Distribution of chlorophyll a and some ecological factors in the Daya Bay

The marine environment, productivity and potential biotic resources in the waters of the Daya Bay were investigated by South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica from 1984 to 1986. The present paper deals mainly with the annual variation and distribution characteristics in chlorophyll a and with some of the ecological factors involved in chlorophyll distribution within the bay. Correlation models are established and discussed. The results could be helpful for further probing into ecosystem and for the exploitation-utilization of aquatic resources in this region.     

南极夏季南设得兰群岛周边海域浮游动物优势种群的分布、丰度及种群结构分析

根据2013/2014年夏季在南极南设得兰群岛周边海域使用北太平洋网采样品及同步环境调查资料,分析了南极大磷虾(Euphausia superba)、拟长臂樱磷虾(Thysanoessa macrura)、尖角似哲水蚤(Calanoides acutus)和近缘哲水蚤(Calanus propinquus)这四种优势浮游动物的丰度和分布特征。结果表明,南极大磷虾和拟长臂樱磷虾在南设得兰海域均有较为广泛的分布,其中南极大磷虾丰度较高,且它们的水平分布存在一定程度的空间分离。在研究海域东部的南奥克尼群岛(South Orkneys)邻近海域发现了大量的南极大磷虾原蚤状C期幼体,表明大磷虾曾于1月中上旬左右产卵繁殖。研究海域的东部南极大磷虾种群结构以幼体前期为主,而西部的种群结构则以幼体后期、未成体和成体为主。尖角似哲水蚤和近缘哲水蚤的空间分布也较为广泛,且两者分布基本一致。东部南奥克尼群岛临近海域的浮游植物浓度较低,这可能是大量南极大磷虾幼体和桡足类摄食活动的结果。     

Larval development ofEuphausia similis (Crustacea,Euphausiacea) in Sagami Bay,central Japan

The larvae ofEuphausia similis G. O. Sars in Sagami Bay, Central Japan, are described. Nauplius, metanauplius, calyptopis and furcilia stages are included. In the furcilia stage, six forms are identified on the basis of the form of the pleopods and the number of terminal telson spines. Furcilia I: a pair of non-setose pleopods and seven terminal telson spines. Furcilia II: a pair of setose and three pairs of non-setose pleopods and seven terminal spines. Furcilia III: four pairs of setose and a pair of non-setose pleopods and seven terminal spines. Furcilia IV: five pairs of setose pleopods and five terminal telson spines. Furcilia V: five pairs of setose pleopods and three terminal telson spines. Furcilia VI: five pairs of setose pleopods and one terminal telson spine. On the basis of the developmental pathway of the larvae,E. similis is suggested to be related toE. spinifera, E. longirostris, E. hanseni and theE. gibboides group species. The size ofE. similis larvae, expressed as total length, in Sagami Bay varied according to month. The sizes of calyptopis III and furcilia I–V stages were smallest in November and March and largest in May.     

Species composition and spatial distribution of euphausiids of the yellow sea and relationships with environmental factors

We investigated species composition and spatial distribution of the euphausiid community in the Yellow Sea and identified the relationship with environmental factors (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate) using bimonthly data from June, 1997 to April, 1998. The environment varied during the sampling period. In warm seasons, thermocline was well developed rendering lower temperature and higher salinity and nutrient concentrations in the bottom layer. During cold seasons the water column was well mixed and no such vertical stratification was noted. Horizontal distribution of temperature, however, differed slightly between near-coast and offshore areas because of the shallow depth of the Yellow Sea, and between southern and northern areas because of the intrusion of water masses such as Yellow Sea Warm Current and Changjiang River Diluted Water. Four euphausiid species were identified:Euphausia pacifica, E. sanzoi, Pseudeuphausia sp. andStylocheron affine. E. sanzoi andS. affine were collected, just one juvenile each, from the southern area in June and December, respectively.Pseudeuphausia sp. were collected in the eastern area all the year round except June.E. pacifica occurred at the whole study area and were the predominant species, representing at least 97.6% of the euphausiid abundance. Further, the distribution pattern of the species was varied in regards to developmental stages (adult, furcilia, calyptopis, egg). From spring to fall,E. pacifica adults were abundant in the central area where the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water prevailed. Furcilia and calyptopis extended their distribution into nearly all the study area during the same period. From late fall to winter, adults were found at the near-coastal area with similar pattern for furcilia and calyptopis. The distribution pattern ofE. pacifica was consistent regarding temperature, salinity, and three nutrients during the sampling period, whereas chlorophyll a showed a different pattern according to the developmental stages. The nutrients should indirectly affect via chlorophyll a and phytoplankton concentration. With respect to these results, we presented a scenario about how the environmental factors along with the water current affect the distribution ofE. pacifica in the Yellow Sea.     

The features and generation of CWB near the South Shetland Islands in austral summer of 1987

-STD Data obtained from the Third Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition from January to February 1987 in the region near the South Shetland Islands are used to investigate an oceanic front, continental water boundary (CWB), north of the South Shetland Islands. The characteristics of the CWB in surface and subsurface layers as well as deep layer are discussed respectively. The estimations of the geostrophic currents and the baroclinic deformed radius Rbc in this area show that the flow along the front is in the geostrophic equilibrium approximately, and the formation of the front is mainly due to the strong boundary current north of the South Shetland Islands. Its length along the front is estimated to be about 360 km and its width across the front is about 30 km.     

基于稳定同位素分析推定秋冬季南极半岛南极大磷虾营养变化

南极大磷虾（Euphausia superba）为南大洋生态系统中的关键种，也是南极生态系统食物网中的重要枢纽。该种秋冬季转换期的营养信息对于理解其知之甚少的越冬机制非常重要。但关于此方面的少数研究在时空变化上仍存在着差异。为此，我们调查了南极半岛秋季（4-5月）和冬季（6月）磷虾成体δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N值的个体、月份及区域性差异。我们的目标旨在检验该期间磷虾的营养变化以及磷虾与其在南极海洋生态系统中的摄食环境之间的关系。结果如下：（1）磷虾δ¹³C值与体长之间无显著关系，但δ¹⁵N值与体长之间则存在显著相关性；（2）秋季磷虾δ¹³C值呈现增长趋势，但冬初季节并无显著变化，此期间δ¹⁵N值无显著不同；（3）布兰斯菲尔德与南设得兰群岛之间的δ¹⁵N平均值显著不同。我们的数据表明南极半岛秋至初冬转换期间磷虾成体营养呈现个体、季节性及区域性变化。     

Aspects of larval,post-larval and juvenile ecology of Macrobrachium petersi (Hilgendorf) in the Keiskamma estuary,South Africa

Although Macrobrachium petersi has nine larval stages, only stage I and a minimal number of stage II M. petersi larvae were caught in the Keiskamma estuary. Stage I larvae undergo a vertical migration at night which is markedly influenced by salinity, especially under stratified conditions. Larvae remain in the water column on the ebb tide, a behavioural pattern which effectively carried them to favourable salinities for growth and development. Stage I larvae show an association with salt front regions. The sudden decline in larval abundance from stage I to stage II downstream from the front suggests a change from a pelagic to an epibenthic existence. Later larval stages failed to appear in the plankton. However, post-larvae were caught in the estuary and a juvenile migration from the estuary to freshwater was monitored.     

Short-term variation in copepod community and physical environment in the waters adjacent to the Kuroshio Current

A continuous survey examined short-term variations in the zooplankton community and physical ocean environment from the northeastern Izu Islands to Boso Peninsula in Japan. High copepod abundance and small upwellings in the surface layer and salinity minimum layer in the subsurface were observed on the north side of coastal fronts in the westernmost transect, moving southward as the Kuroshio Current left the Boso Peninsula. Thus, the salinity minimum layer might be a key factor forming upwelling and the fronts, leading to large abundance of coastal copepods off the northeastern Izu Islands. A community structure analysis of calanoid copepods revealed an intermediate belt assemblage between coastal and offshore (Kuroshio) assemblages. Copepod abundance was remarkably low and Ctenocalanus vanus dominated (nearly 37%) in the intermediate belt zone, indicating that C. vanus has a relatively high tolerance to adverse environments for calanoid copepods. As the Kuroshio Current left the Boso Peninsula, the coastal assemblage expanded in the same direction, and the intermediate belt assemblage off the northeastern Izu Islands disappeared. The largest population of Calanus sinicus was found along the two western transects off the northeastern Izu Islands (>1000 m depth), which was assumed to be transported from Sagami Bay and advanced southwestward while growing from copepodite stages CIII to CV. Larvae of C. sinicus would be an important food for fish larvae in addition to Paracalanus parvus s.l., the numerically dominant species in the coastal assemblage, and C. vanus under the adverse conditions for coastal copepods.     

Zooplankton structure and grazing in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in late austral summer 1993: Part 1. Ecological zonation

The composition, distribution, abundance, biomass and size structure of mesozooplankton, collected using Bongo nets in the top 300 m layer along a transect between the Antarctic continent and Cape Town, were investigated during the second South African Antarctic Marine Ecosystem Study (SAAMES II) in Jan.–Feb. 1993. Small (<10 mm) and medium (20–50 mm) size groups of zooplankton consistently dominated across the Southern Ocean. The highest zooplankton densities were recorded at the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) and at the Subtropical Convergence (STC). Minor peaks in zooplankton densities were observed in the southern vicinity of the Subantarctic Front (SAF) and APF. Elevated zooplankton stocks were also found within the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) and the Polar Frontal Zone. The lowest densities were recorded in the permanently open zone (MIZ–APF) and in the Subantarctic zone (SAF–STC). Copepods were generally important along the entire transect and formed the bulk of zooplankton stock within the MIZ and in the Polar Frontal Zone (APF–SAF), accounting for at least 40–95% of total abundance and biomass. Euphausiids were also a prominent group along the transect. Their contribution was highest (up to 80% of total biomass) between the MIZ and the APF, mainly because of the occurrence of swarms of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Tunicates, Pyrosoma sp. and Salpa fusiformis, were found in great numbers only in the region of the STC and further north, while Salpa thompsoni was abundant at the southern boundary of the APF. Chaetognaths dominated samples numerically and by mass in the Subantarctic Zone. Results obtained from cluster and ordination analyses show that zooplankton community structure was well correlated with the position of various biogeographical zones separated by the main frontal systems of the Southern Ocean. Two major groupings of stations, separated by the SAF, were identified in these analyses. This front separated the Antarctic and the subantarctic/subtropical assemblages, confirming its important role as a biogeographical boundary.     

Dispersal and recruitment of blue crab larvae in Delaware Bay,U.S.A.

Results of a three-year survey of the occurrence of Callinectes sapidus larvae in the mouth of Delaware Bay indicated that stage I zoea larvae were most abundant insurface water as compared to mid-depths and near bottom. The major peak in abundance of stage I zoea larvae occurred in early August with a secondary peak in early September. Peaks in abundance of megalopae occurred five weeks after the respective peaks in zoeal abundance. Zoea stages II–VIII were not collected in the bay mouth. Results of sampling every 3 h over consecutive tidal cycles showed that stage I zoea larvae were most common in the water column on ebbing tidal currents. Megalopae were most common in the water column on flooding tidal currents, suggesting a tidally related, vertical migration. It was concluded that stage I zoea larvae are flushed from the estuary and undergo development on the continental shelf. Megalopae are then transported back to inshore waters by a combination of winds and currents and invade the estuary by means of migration into the water column on flooding tidal currents and migration to the bottom on ebbing tidal currents.