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Mezozooplankton Beneath the Summer Sea Ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica: Abundance, Species Composition, and DMSP content
Citation:
Elliott, D. T., K. W. Tang, AND A. SHIELDS. Mezozooplankton Beneath the Summer Sea Ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica: Abundance, Species Composition, and DMSP content. Polar Biology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 32(1):113-122, (2009).
Impact/Purpose:
To observe zooplankton community
Description:
The Ross Sea Phaeocystis antarctica bloom contributes to a summer increase in under-ice planton biomass in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Due to difficulties of under-ice sampling, information on the mesozooplankton in McMurdo Sound is limited. We measured the abundance of mesoooplankton taxa and animal associated dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSPz) in McMurdo Sound during the austral summer (2005-2006-2007). Abundance varied from 20-4250 individuals m-3 (biomass 0.02-239.3mgCm-3), with peaks in mid-December and late-January/February. Copepods and the pteropod Limacina helicina were dorminant. DMSPz was detected in all zooplankton sampled, with highest levels (biomass normalized) in copepod nauplii and L. helicina. An a posteriori investigation of the origin of L. Antarctica DMSPz indicated ingested P. Antarctica as a likely source. The zooplankton community differed from previous reports for the area, both in biomass and abundance P. antactica appeared an important trophic component for mesozooplankton, and may be grazed heavily by L. Antarctica.
URLs/Downloads:
MEZOZOOPLANKTON BENEATH THE SUMMER SEA ICE IN MCMURDO SOUND, ANTARCTICA: ABUNDANCE, SPECIES COMPOSITION, AND DMSP CONTENT.