Vertical distribution of copepod eggs in the oxygen minimum zone off Mejillones Bay (23°S) in the Humboldt Current System

Marine ecology progress series

, B. Franco-Cisterna¹  , M. Cornejo¹  , P. Hidalgo²  *, R. Riquelme-Bugueño³  P. M. Ruz⁴ 

[1] Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, PO Box 1313, Chile;Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, PO Box 1313, Chile. Departamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160 C, Concepción, Chile;Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, PO Box 1313, Chile. Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160 C, Concepción, Chile;Programa de Doctorado en Oceanografía, Departamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160 C, Concepción, Chile. Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, PO Box 1313, Chile

关键词: Acartia tonsa;    Paracalanus cf. indicus;    Calanus chilensis;    Northern Chile;    Sinking velocity;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps12117

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

In the Humboldt Current System (HCS) off northern Chile (23°S), 6 samplings were conducted in 2013 and 2014, each at 8 depths ranging from 5 to 80 m, to study the role of environmental variability on the abundance and vertical distribution of the eggs of dominant copepods, with special emphasis on hypoxia associated with the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The highest levels of abundance of Acartia tonsa and Paracalanus cf. indicus eggs were in surface waters above the OMZ. The distribution of eggs of both species correlated positively with chlorophyll a and stratification (Brunt-Väisälä frequency). Calanus chilensis eggs were found at greater depths, and their distribution did not correlate with any abiotic variables, whereas the distribution of C. chilensis females was associated with subsurface water upwelling due to a positive correlation with Ekman transport and salinity. The vertical distribution of copepod eggs in the HCS can be explained by abiotic variability, the sinking velocities of the eggs and the resuspension effect of upwelling vertical velocities, all of which may retain the eggs of smaller copepods in waters above the OMZ while C. chilensis eggs sink more rapidly, reaching the OMZ in less than 2 d. The survival of early-stage copepods is vital for the success of populations; therefore, any changes in conditions, like upwelling intensification, shoaling, and expansion of OMZs due to climate change, can affect the productivity of the pelagic realm in coastal upwelling ecosystems.

【 授权许可】

Unknown