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Population structure of two Antarctic ice-associated copepods, Drescheriella glacialis and Paralabidocera antarctica, in winter sea ice
Citation
Swadling, KM, Population structure of two Antarctic ice-associated copepods, Drescheriella glacialis and Paralabidocera antarctica, in winter sea ice, Marine Biology, 139, (3) pp. 597-603. ISSN 0025-3162 (2001) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1007/s002270100610
Abstract
The spatial distribution and population structure of two dominant ice-associated copepods, Drescheriella glacialis and Paralabidocera antarctica, were studied during winter at nine locations in east Antarctic fast ice. These species accounted for at least 90% of the total metazoan abundance at each location. Abundances were high, reaching 175 individuals 1-1 (190,000 m-2) for D. glacialis and 660 1-1 (901,000 m-2) for P. antarctica. These abundances were probably partly supported by the high biomass of ice-algae (Pearson correlation coefficient, r=0.75), as indicated by chlorophyll-α concentrations (1.7-10.1 μg 1-1). The population structures of each species suggested very different life-history strategies. All developmental stages of D. glacialis were isolated from the ice cores, including females with egg sacs, supporting the hypothesis that this species reproduces in the sea ice during winter. This strategy might assist D. glacialis in leading a continually colonising existence, whereby it responds opportunistically to the availability of favourable habitat patches. The populations of P. antarctica were composed primarily of nauplii (>99%), consistent with past observations of a synchronised life cycle for this species. The strong coupling of the developmental cycle of P. antarctica to the growth and decay of sea ice suggests that local extinctions might occur in areas where ice break-out is unpredictable.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Population ecology |
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, KM (Associate Professor Kerrie Swadling) |
ID Code: | 21990 |
Year Published: | 2001 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 14 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2001-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2011-08-03 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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