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SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITY DYNAMICS IN THREE URBANIZED BAYOUS OF THE PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM, FLORIDA, USA
Citation:
Lores, E M., M A. Lewis, AND Z Malaeb. SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITY DYNAMICS IN THREE URBANIZED BAYOUS OF THE PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM, FLORIDA, USA. GULF AND CARIBBEAN RESEARCH 14:1-11, (2002).
Description:
Spatial and temporal patterns in zooplankton community composition and abundance in near-coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico are not well understood. This survey provides information on spatial and temporal differences in zoolplankton community composition and abundance for a coastal area affected by urban and industrial development. Zooplankton samples were collected for one year on multiple occasions from 10 stations located in Pensacola Bay including three adjacent mesohaline-tidal bayous (Bayou Texar, Bayou Chico and Bayou Grande) near Pensacola, Florida. Statistically significant differences (a=0.05) were found in log-biovolume among sites. The average biovolume of zooplankton was highest in Pensacola Bay (0.38 ml m-3) followed, in decreasing order, by that in Bayou Grande (0.21 ml m-3), Bayou Chico (0.14 ml m-3), and Bayou Texar (0.06 ml m-3). Average zooplankton abundances in Pensacola Bay (3,100 m-3) and Bayou Grande (3,000 m-3) was more than double the abundances in Bayou Texar (1,400 m-3) and Bayou Chico (1,100 m-3). Peak abundance was highest in Bayou Grande during January (12,500 m-3) and was lowest in Bayou Chico in November (43 m-3). The calanoid copepod, Acartia tonsa Dana, was the dominant species in the study area. The only exceptions were where a branchiopod (Podon) or a cyclopoid copepod (Oithona) was more abundant during May, July and August in Pensacola Bay. The observed differences in the zooplankton community may be attributable to either one or a combination of factors such as water quality (toxicity), predation and nutrient availability. Zooplankton abundance increased following both hurricanes that impacted the study area.