Biodiversity of North Atlantic and North Sea calanoid copepods

Beaugrand, G, Reid, PC, Ibanez, F and Planque, B 2000 Biodiversity of North Atlantic and North Sea calanoid copepods. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 204. 299-303.

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Abstract/Summary

Spatial patterns in pelagic biodiversity are the result of factors acting from a global to a local scale. The global patterns have been studied intensively using taxa such as foraminifera and euphausiids. However, these studies do not allow direct comparisons of neritic and oceanic regions or examination of relationships between local and regional patterns of pelagic diversity. Here we present a map of the diversity of calanoid copepods, a key planktonic group, summarising 40 yr of continuous monthly investigations in the North Atlantic and North Sea. The high number of samples (168 162) allowed mesoscale patterns in diversity to be detected for the first time at an ocean-basin level. Our results demonstrate pronounced local spatial variability in planktonic diversity and refine previous global studies at a lower resolution. They form a baseline at which long-term changes in planktonic diversity can be better assessed and ecosystem management plans implemented.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	Biodiversity Pelagic environment Time series Statistical analysis North Atlantic North Sea
Subjects:
Divisions:	Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science > Other (SAHFOS) (expired)
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date made live:	27 Sep 2006
Last Modified:	06 Jun 2017 15:59
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/1727

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