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Distribution of zooplankton in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean

Citation

Venkataramana, V and Anilkumar, N and Swadling, K and Mishra, RK and Tripathy, SC and Sarkar, A and Augusta, SM and Sabu, P and Pillai, HUK, Distribution of zooplankton in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean, Antarctic Science, 32, (3) pp. 168-179. ISSN 0954-1020 (2020) [Refereed Article]

Copyright Statement

© Antarctic Science Ltd 2020

DOI: doi:10.1017/S0954102019000579

Abstract

The community composition of zooplankton with an emphasis on copepods was assessed in the frontal zones of the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean (SO) during summer 2013. Copepods were the dominant group in both the bongo net and multiple plankton sampler across the entire region. High zooplankton abundance was recorded along each transect in the Polar Front (PF). Community structure in this front was dominated by common taxa, including Ctenocalanus citer, Clausocalanus spp., Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus, Calanus australis and Rhincalanus gigas, which together accounted for > 62% of the total abundance. Calocalanus spp., Neocalanus tonsus and C. propinquus were indicator species in the Sub-Tropical Front (STF), Sub-Antarctic Front and PF, respectively. A strong contrast in population structure and biovolume was observed between then PF and the STF. The community structure of smaller copepods was associated with the high-temperature region, whereas communities of larger copepods were associated with the low-temperature region. Thus, it seems probable that physical and biological characteristics of the SO frontal regions are controlling the abundance and distribution of zooplankton community structure by restricting some species to the warmer stratified zones and some species to the well-mixed zone.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Keywords:subantarctic, copepods, subtropical front, polar front, chlorophyll a, multiple plankton sampler, nutrients, Southern Ocean fronts
Research Division:Biological Sciences
Research Group:Ecology
Research Field:Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
Objective Division:Environmental Management
Objective Group:Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments
Objective Field:Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments
UTAS Author:Swadling, K (Associate Professor Kerrie Swadling)
ID Code:137504
Year Published:2020
Web of Science® Times Cited:5
Deposited By:Ecology and Biodiversity
Deposited On:2020-02-18
Last Modified:2021-03-22
Downloads:0

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