The seasonal and short-term variability of zooplankton taxonomic composition in the shallow coastal area of the Gulf of Gdansk

• Authors: L. Bielecka , Gaj M. Gaj , M. Gaj , Mudrak S. Mudrak , S. Mudrak , Zmijewska M.I. Zmijewska , M.I. Zmijewska
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Seasonal and short-term variability of zooplankton taxonomic composition in the shallow coastal area of the Gulf of Gdansk was reconstructed from analyses of material collected at weekly intervals between March 1998 and March 1999, using a Kopenhagen net with a 50 ?m-mesh size. Water temperature was also measured during the investigations, which enabled precise monitoring of the seasonality in the area. The contribution of a particular species and its density varied seasonally and, in the majority of cases, even weekly. On the one hand, the diversity and instability of particular zooplankton components were observed; on the other hand, though, the long-term presence and domination of species commonly inhabiting the waters of the Gulf of Gdansk (Acartia spp.) were confirmed to be independent of environmental conditions, especially, temperature. Frequent plankton catches resulted in identification of periods of fast qualitative changes within zooplankton and precise definition of the time when a particular taxon occurs. The time of dominance in major taxonomic zooplankton groups lasted: Tintinnina - 17 weeks, Rotatoria - 9 weeks, Copepoda - 2 weeks. Cladocera never was a dominant taxon.

Keywords

EN

GDANSK GULF; SEASONALITY; ZOOPLANKTON

Discipline

• AQUATIC_SCIENCES: AQUATIC SCIENCES

• Publisher: Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk
• Journal: Oceanological Studies
• Year: 2000
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 57-76

Contributors

author

L. Bielecka

author

Gaj M. Gaj

author

M. Gaj

author

Mudrak S. Mudrak

author

S. Mudrak

author

Zmijewska M.I. Zmijewska

author

M.I. Zmijewska

• Document Type: ARTICLE
• Publication order reference: L. Bielecka, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, al. Marszalka J. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland