Copepod feeding in a tuna fishery area of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Biomass, feeding and metabolic rates of planktonic copepods were studied in an oligotrophic area of the tropical Atlantic Ocean during an instability wave period (boreal summer) and a stratified period (boreal winter). In summer, zooplankton biomass was higher than in winter, showing a positive effect of the instability wave. Moreover, feeding equilibrated metabolic expenditures of copepods in most cases during the instability. In contrast, in stratified conditions copepods did not equilibrate their metabolic budget. Our results suggest that the microbial loop was the dominant trophic pathway during both periods but with a quicker cycling during the instability.
Champalbert
Gisèle
G
Centre d'océanologie de Marseille, Station marine d'Endoume, rue de la Batterie-des-Lions, 13007 Marseille, France. Gisele.Champalbert@com.univ-mrs.fr
Pagano
Marc
M
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D018533:Biomass; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D003445:Crustacea / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005398:Fisheries; D010933:Plankton; D012119:Respiration; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014413:Tuna
D002734:Chlorophyll