Mesozooplankton distribution in relation to hydrology of the Northeastern Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean

Isari, Stamatina; Ramfos, Alexis; Somarakis, Stylianos; Koutsikopoulos, Constantin; Kallianiotis, Argyris; Fragopoulu, Nina

doi:10.1093/plankt/fbi058

Cited by 68 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The main factor leading to this high feeding intensity of chaetognaths in the area was the presence of cladocerans, which have been heavily preyed upon, especially by S. enflata. The mean abundance of the total zooplankton in the surface 0-50 m layer recorded in the present study, was far lower compared to other coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin (e.g., Saronicos Gulf: Siokou-Frangou 1996; Gulf of Naples: D' Alcalà et al 2004;Evoikos Gulf: Ramfos et al 2005; north Aegean Sea: Isari et al 2006). Reports from the various Mediterranean areas have shown that the maximum abundance of cladocerans is found in July and diminishes in the autumn period (Siokou-Frangou 1996;D'Alcalà et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 64%

Diel vertical migration and feeding of chaetognaths in coastal waters of the eastern Mediterranean

Kehayias

Kourouvakalis

2010

Biologia

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This study investigates the diel vertical distribution and the diet of the most important chaetognath species found in the 0-50 m surface layer of a coastal area in the eastern Mediterranean during a 24-hour period in July 2004. Among the recorded chaetognaths, Sagitta enflata was the most abundant species (41.6%), followed by S. minima (32.5%) and S. serratodentata (20.8%). Those three species exhibited a "twilight migration" pattern, with only small differences among them. Vertical separation was found between S. enflata and S. minima. Both species preyed mainly on cladocerans, although copepods were the most abundant group in the zooplankton assemblage. The chaetognath species followed partially the diel vertical migration of their prey. S. enflata showed high feeding intensity at different times in both day and night, while S. minima fed more intensively at midday (12:00) and at dusk (20:00), and S. serratodentata in the morning (08:00). It seems that in order to coexist in an area of low productivity the chaetognath species follow the basic ecological rules of space, time and food-type separation, in order to reduce the inter-and intra-specific competition. The high preference of S. minima and especially of S. enflata for the cladocerans made them probably the most important predators of cladocerans during summer.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 64%

Diel vertical migration and feeding of chaetognaths in coastal waters of the eastern Mediterranean

Kehayias

Kourouvakalis

2010

Biologia

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“…A similar relationship was determined for the majority of other mesozooplankton groups. For cladocerans and appendicularians a temperature-related seasonality has been frequently documented (Fonda-Umani 1980;Lučić and Onofri 1990;Isari et al 2006). The only monospecific outburst in the Channel waters was the appearance of the cladoceran Penilia avirostris (>4000 ind.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zooplankton community and hydrographical properties of the Neretva Channel (eastern Adriatic Sea)

et al. 2007

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Temporal and spatial variability of micro and mesozooplankton was studied in 1998 and 1999 at four stations in the Neretva Channel area influenced by the Neretva river and the open waters of the south Adriatic Sea. The area is orthophosphate limited, but an excessive accumulation of land derived nitrogen is prevented by phytoplankton uptake and the general circulation pattern. Microzooplankton was dominated by ciliates, with average abundances comparable to other Adriatic channel areas (122-543 ind. l -1). Non-loricate ciliates (NLC) generally peaked in the warmer periods, but a winter increase was evident towards the inner part of the channel. Tintinnid abundances generally increased in autumn. A significant relationship with temperature was not recorded for either protozoan group. An inverse relationship between NLC and salinity might be indirectly caused by their preference for the food abundant surface layer. Mesozooplankton was dominated by copepods, with distinct summer maxima throughout the area and pronounced winter maxima of >10,000 ind. m -3 at the inner stations. The community was predominantly neritic but the open sea waters were important in structuring the mesozooplankton assemblage at all stations during the autumn-winter period. Although temperature regulated the seasonal dynamics of most metazoans and the species succession in the copepod community, small omnivorous copepods (Oncaea media complex, Oithona nana and Euterpina acutifrons) dominated regardless of the season. A trophic link between copepods and ciliates was evident in winter during low phytoplankton biomass.

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“…Among crustaceans, cladocerans are very abundant in coastal waters and expand their distribution beyond the continental slope only in narrow neritic areas, generally in summer (Saiz et al, 1999;Riandey et al, 2005;Isari et al, 2006). In the South Aegean Sea, Evadne spinifera contributed 6% to mesozooplankton abundance in September , while in the Straits of Sicily and the EMS, all cladocerans accounted for just 0.3% of total zooplankton during autumn .…”

Section: Other Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ostracods, which are not numerous in the mesozooplankton communities at temperate latitudes (Angel, 1993), present a remarkably consistent distribution in different Mediterranean regions (Scotto di Carlo et al, 1984;Mazzocchi et al, 1997;Isari et al, 2006). Their contribution to total zooplankton numbers increases gradually with depth and varies from ∼2% in the upper 50 m to ∼11% in the 200-300 m layer.…”

Section: Other Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plankton in the open Mediterranean Sea: a review

et al. 2010

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Abstract. We present an overview of the plankton studies conducted during the last 25 years in the epipelagic offshore waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This quasi-enclosed sea is characterized by a rich and complex physical dynamics with distinctive traits, especially in regard to the thermohaline circulation. Recent investigations have basically confirmed the long-recognised oligotrophic nature of this sea, which increases along both the west-east and the north-south directions. Nutrient availability is low, especially for phosphorous (N:P up to 60), though this limitation may be buffered by inputs from highly populated coasts and from the atmosphere. Phytoplankton biomass, as chl a, generally displays low values (less than 0.2 µg chl a l −1 ) over large areas, with a modest late winter increase. A large bloom (up to 3 µg l −1 ) is observed throughout the late winter and spring exclusively in the NW area. Relatively high biomass values are recorded in fronts and cyclonic gyres. A deep chlorophyll maximum is a permanent feature for the whole basin, except during the late winter mixing. It is found at increasingly greater depths ranging from 30 m in the Alboran Sea to 120 m in the easternmost Levantine basin. Primary production reveals a west-east decreasing trend and ranges between 59 and 150 g C m −2 y −1 (in situ measurements). Overall, the basin is largely dominated by small autotrophs, microheterotrophs and egg-carrying copepod species. The microorganisms (phytoplankton, viruses, bacteria, flagellates and ciliates) and zooplankton components reveal a considerable diversity and

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Mesozooplankton distribution in relation to hydrology of the Northeastern Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean

Cited by 68 publications

References 22 publications

Diel vertical migration and feeding of chaetognaths in coastal waters of the eastern Mediterranean

Diel vertical migration and feeding of chaetognaths in coastal waters of the eastern Mediterranean

Zooplankton community and hydrographical properties of the Neretva Channel (eastern Adriatic Sea)

Plankton in the open Mediterranean Sea: a review

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