Flexible diel vertical migration behaviour of zooplankton in the Irish Sea

Irigoien, X, Conway, DVP and Harris, RP 2004 Flexible diel vertical migration behaviour of zooplankton in the Irish Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 267. 85-97. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps267085

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Abstract/Summary

The diel vertical migration (DVM) of the whole plankton community was investigated in the central and coastal Irish Sea. Generally, more than 60% of the plankton did not perform significant DVM. A correlation analysis of the weighted mean depths of different organisms and their potential predators suggested relationships between two groups, Oithona spp., copepod nauplii and fish larvae, and between Pseudocalanus elongatus, Calanus spp. and chaetognaths. The organisms showing significant DVM were chaetognaths (Sagitta spp.), Calanus spp. and P. elongatus. Calanus spp. showed clear ontogenic variations in DVM, and along with P. elongatus demonstrated great flexibility both in the amplitude and direction of migration. P. elongatus did not migrate in the coastal area and Calanus spp. showed a clear reverse migration. The direction of migration appeared to be related to the vertical position of the chaetognaths in the water column during the day.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	Vertical migration Calanus Pseudocalanus Oithona Chaetognaths Fish larvae Diurnal variations
Subjects:	Zoology Oceanography
Divisions:	Marine Biological Association of the UK > Other (MBA) Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Other (PML)
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date made live:	22 May 2006
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2020 09:54
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/1315

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