莱州湾金城海域浮游动物群落结构及与环境因子的关系

于2009年和2010年3—12月在莱州湾金城海域对浮游动物群落结构及其环境因子进行了连续20个月份的综合调查,共记录到浮游动物75种,分属14个不同大类。浮游动物以桡足类和浮游幼虫居多,分别鉴定出22种、20类,占种类总数的29.3%、26.7%,其次为水螅水母类,鉴定出11种,端足类、被囊动物、腹足类和栉水母类分别鉴定出6种、4种、4种、2种,其它枝角类、毛颚动物、等足类、糠虾类、磷虾类以及钵水母类各鉴定出1种。主要优势种为强壮箭虫(优势度Y=0.24)、中华哲水蚤(Y=0.13)、墨氏胸刺水蚤(Y=0.07)、以及洪氏纺锤水蚤(Y=0.02)。2009年与2010年浮游动物群落结构的变化趋势比较稳定,同一季节群落结构相似度达到40%以上。浮游动物丰度分别在2009年及2010年的5月份达到最高值951.65个/m3、1348.14个/m3。种类数分别在2009年9月和2010年6月达到最高值48种、40种。多样性指数分别在2009年10月及2010年5月达到最高值2.6、2.7,呈现明显的季节变化特征。典范对应分析(Canonical correspondence analysis,CCA)显示,水温和盐度是影响浮游动物群落结构最主要的影响因子,水温与浮游动物种类数的相关系数达到0.87(P0.01)。盐度与浮游动物数量的相关系数为0.484(P0.05)。透明度、化学耗氧量、pH、叶绿素及总氮总磷等环境参数对浮游动物群落结构的影响较弱。     

舟山海域夏、秋季浮游动物的分布特征及其与环境因子的关系

为更好地了解舟山海域浮游动物的群落结构、生物量和丰度的时空分布特征及其与主要环境因子的关系,分别于2014年7月和10月进行了夏季、秋季两次生态综合调查,并用多维尺度分析法、典范对应分析法对浮游动物群落结构进行了研究。结果表明:夏季舟山海域调查的浮游动物有13类,64种,优势种为背针胸刺水蚤(Centropages dorsispinatus)、圆唇角水蚤(Labidocera rotunda)、中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)、精致真刺水蚤(Euchaeta concinna)、百陶带箭虫(Zonosagitta bedoti)和真刺唇角水蚤(Labidocera euchaeta);秋季鉴定到浮游动物12类,45种,优势种为背针胸刺水蚤(Centropages dorsispinatus)、百陶带箭虫(Zonosagitta bedoti)、双生水母(Diphyes chamissonis)、瓜水母(Beroёcucumis)和中华哲水蚤。夏季浮游动物平均丰度及平均生物量(144.0 ind/m3和176.3 mg/m~3)都分别高于秋季(21.4个/m3和86.3 mg/m3);Shannon-Wiener多样性指数夏季(3.03)高于秋季(2.82),Pielou均匀度指数则是秋季(0.83)高于夏季(0.64);夏季不同区域浮游动物群落之间具有明显的差异,而秋季大部分站位群落之间差异不显著;温度、盐度、叶绿素a浓度和营养盐含量是影响舟山海域浮游动物分布的主要环境因子;与历史资料相比,舟山海域浮游动物丰度及生物量呈下降趋势,其优势种保持较稳定。     

长江河口浮游动物的种类组成、群落结构及多样性

于1999年枯水期(2—3月份)、丰水期(8月份)、2000年枯水期(2—3月份)对长江河口浮游动物采样调查,研究了长江河口浮游动物的种类组成、群落结构及多样性并初步探讨了三峡工程对长江河口浮游动物的影响及长江河口水环境的生物监测。调查共发现浮游动物87种,甲壳动物占绝对优势,共59种。在所有浮游动物中挠足类31种。其次为水母类,有9种,此外,枝角类、毛颚类各8种。3次采样浮游动物的优势种主要有河口半咸水种和近岸低盐种类如华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus sinensis)、火腿许水蚤(Schmackeria poplesia)、虫肢歪水蚤(Tortanus vermiculus),真刺唇角水蚤(Labidocera euchaeta)等,还有长江径流带到河口的淡水种如近领剑水蚤（Cyclops vicinus vicinus)、英勇剑水蚤（Cyclops strenuus）、透明溞（Daphnia hyalina)等。一些浮游动物可作为水系指示种,其分布、数量反映了不同水系分布变化,长江河口浮游动物有;类水系指示种。通过对长江河口浮游动物群落聚类分析发现。1999、2000年枯水期浮游动物群落结构相似。可分为河口类群、近岸类群和近外海类群。1999年丰水期只形成近岸和近外海类群。浮游动物种类数由口门内向口门外方向有逐渐增加的趋势。浮游动物种类数由北向南变化趋势一致。大潮与小潮、涨憩与落强等潮汐作用对浮游动物影响往往因采样时间与区域等的不同而不同。对长江河口3次采样的物种多样性指数和均匀度指数进行了计算,结果表明：浮游动物多样性指数1999年枯水期最低,1999年丰水期最高。     

黄河口邻近海域浮游动物群落时空变化特征

利用2012年12月—2013年9月4个季度的现场调查资料研究了黄河口邻近海域浮游动物群落的时空分布特征。研究表明,黄河口邻近海域共鉴定出浮游动物70种,包括浮游幼虫19类。浮游动物优势种主要由夜光虫(Noctiluca scintillans)、小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)、双刺纺锤水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)、拟长腹剑水蚤(Oithona similis)、强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus crassirostris)、近缘大眼剑水蚤(Corycaeus affinis)、强壮箭虫(Sagitta crassa)、双壳类幼体(Bivalvia larvae)、多毛类幼体(Polychaeta larvae)等种类。黄河口邻近海域浮游动物丰度夏季最高(60620个/m~3),春季(31228个/m~3)和秋季(21540个/m~3)次之,冬季最低(7594个/m~3)。不同季节浮游动物丰度的空间分布具有差异性,春季浮游动物丰度呈现出从近岸到外海降低的趋势;夏季浮游动物形成两个高丰度区,分别位于河口邻近海区和河口东部海区;秋季和冬季浮游动物丰度高值区均位于河口东部海区。浮游动物生物多样性指数均呈现从河口到外海升高的趋势,低值区位于黄河口入海口附近海区。相关性分析显示,黄河口邻近海域浮游动物丰度与海水温度显著正相关(r=0.212,P0.05),表明温度为影响黄河口邻近海域浮游动物丰度变化的主要因素。     

北部湾近岸海域浮游动物群落结构特征及季节变化

2017年3月(枯水期)、7月(丰水期)和10月(平水期)分别对北部湾近岸海域44个站位的浮游动物进行了调查。结果共检出浮游动物251种和浮游幼体24类,其中枯水期138种(类),丰水期134种(类),平水期191种(类),分属河口低盐、近岸暖温、近岸暖水和外海暖水4个生态类群。优势种9种,其中枯水期以原生动物占绝对优势,丰水期以枝角类、桡足类和浮游幼体类占优势,平水期以十足类和浮游幼体类占优势。浮游动物丰度年均值为789.95个/m~3,呈现出枯水期(1540.19个/m~3)明显高于平水期(457.58个/m~3)和丰水期(372.08个/m~3)的季节变化特征;浮游动物生物量年均值为252.40 mg/m~3,生物量的季节变化与丰度变化不一致,平水期生物量(385.01 mg/m~3)明显高于枯水期(221.41 mg/m~3)和丰水期(150.78 mg/m~3)。多样性指数平水期最高(3.16),丰水期(2.35)次之,枯水期(2.22)最低。枯水期和丰水期北部湾近岸海域浮游动物生物量和丰度水平分布特征基本呈现自河口近岸海域向外海递增的趋势,平水期浮游动物生物量与丰度的空间分布较为均匀。浮游动物的种类组成结构以及优势种的演替对浮游动物的生物量和丰度季节变化有着重要的决定作用。径流导致的悬浮物、营养盐等的变化可能是决定北部湾近岸海域浮游动物生物量和丰度空间分布的主要因素。研究还表明与其他海湾相比,北部湾近岸海域浮游动物群落结构趋于小型化,需加大关注。     

田湾核电站海域浮游动物生态特征

2009年8月在田湾核电站附近海域进行了海洋浮游动物及环境因子的调查,在14个调查站位共鉴定浮游动物10大类43种.其中原生动物5种,水螅水母类17种,栉水母类2种,枝角类2种,桡足类11种,糠虾2种,樱虾类1种,磷虾1种,毛颚类1种,被囊类1种.浮游动物的丰度范围为99-2546个/m3,平均值为834个/m3.主要优势种为薮枝螅水母、太平洋纺锤水蚤、背针胸刺水蚤、鸟喙尖头潘、异体住囊虫、汤氏长足水蚤、强壮箭虫.优势度分别为0.804、0.586、0.569、0.485、0.197、0.140、0.116.各类指数变幅较大(种类数为9-17,丰富度指数为0.913-1.770,多样性指数为1.170-3.212,均匀度指数为0.369-0.803).多样性指数均值为2.188,均匀度指数均值为0.587,丰富度指数均值为1.336.相关性分析表明,水温与浮游动物丰度及种类数之间具有显著的相关性,相关系数(r)分别为-0.615和-0.574,P＜0.05;种类数与多样性指数、丰富度指数及均匀度指数有显著的正相关,相关系数(r)分别为0.730、0.759(P＜0.01)和0.552( P＜0.05),水温升高使浮游动物种类数减少;水温与氨氮含量之间有极显著的正相关性,氨氮含量与浮游动物种类数之间有极显著的负相关性,水温升高使氨氮上升引起浮游动物种类数下降,温排水导致调查海域水温升高引起了浮游动物群落多样性指数、丰富度指数及均匀度指数的下降.调查海域水质状况的生物多样性指数评价显示,目前该海域水质总体处于轻度污染.     

长江口及邻近海域浮游动物群落结构及季节变化

根据2006—2007年长江口及其邻近海域(29°30'N—32°30'N,120°00'E—127°30'E)150个站位4个季节的调查资料,对长江口海域浮游动物群落结构、种类组成、优势种及其季节变化进行研究。结果表明,长江口及其邻近海域浮游动物群落物种多样性丰富,四季共鉴定浮游动物460种,隶属7个门,246属,此外,另有54类浮游幼体。其中,桡足类是最优势类群,有193种,占41.96%;端足类为第二优势类群,有51种,占11.09%;水螅水母为第三优势类群,有34种,占7.39%。长江口及其邻近海域浮游动物的物种多样性呈现明显季节变化,其特征为:夏季(317种)秋季(309种)春季(230种)冬季(138种)。中华哲水蚤和百陶带箭虫为长江口及其邻近海域的四季优势种。长江口及其邻近海域浮游动物大体可划分为5种生态类群:近岸低盐类群、广温广盐类群、低温高盐类群、高温广盐类群和高温高盐类群。结合同步调查的水文和水化学数据,进行浮游动物群落丰度与环境因子的相关分析表明:盐度是影响长江口及其邻近海域的浮游动物群落丰度的主要环境因子。     

夏季舟山渔场及邻近海域浮游动物群落结构特征分析

2006年8月在舟山渔场及邻近海域（29°30′ ～31°30′ N,124°30′ E以西）开展海洋生态系统综合调查,用浅水Ⅰ型浮游生物网采集的浮游动物样本,对该海域浮游动物的种类组成、数量分布、生物多样性等群落结构特征进行了分析。结果得知,在调查海域共鉴定出浮游动物93种（不包含浮游幼虫）,其中以桡足类的种类数为最多,有50种,优势种主要有精致真刺水蚤（Euchaeta concinna）、软拟海樽（Dolioletta gegenbauri）、肥胖箭虫（Sagitta enflata）、百陶箭虫（Sagitta bedoti）、中华哲水蚤（Calanus sinicus）、普通波水蚤（Undinula vulgaris）、微刺哲水蚤（Canthocalanus paupe）、长尾类幼虫（Macruran larvae）、双生水母（Diphyes chamissonis）、背针胸刺水蚤（Centropages dorsispinatus）、肥胖三角溞（Evadne tergestina）、太平洋纺锤水蚤（Acartia pacifica）等12种。调查海域浮游动物丰度平面分布呈现南部高、北部低,近岸高、外海低的特征。生物多样性分析表明,调查海域浮游动物种类数较多,且具有较高的均匀度（0.70）,因此其生物多样性指数较高（4.98）。根据聚类分析结果,可将夏季调查海域的浮游动物在17.13%相似性水平上分为A、B、C三个组群。生物−环境匹配分析显示,浮游动物的丰度除了与表层盐度、硝酸氮和硅酸盐含量有关外,还与镉、铅的含量存在着一定相关性。     

渤海浮游动物群落生态特点Ⅰ.种类组成与群落结构

以1959年全国海洋普查浮游动物中网周年标本为材料,对渤海浮游动物的群落结构进行分析.渤海浮游动物群落以近岸广温种为主,主要优势种包括小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)、双毛纺锤水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)、强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus crassirostris)、拟长腹剑水蚤(Oithona similis)、墨氏胸刺水蚤(Centropages mcmurrichi)、中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)、真刺唇角水蚤(Labidocera enchaeta)、强壮箭虫(Sagitta crassa)等.由于受海流影响,渤海中也有少量暖水性种类出现,包括Euchaeta rimana Bradford 1974、精致真刺水蚤(Euchaeta concinna)、刺尾角水蚤(Pontella spinicauda)、羽环纽鳃樽(Cyclosalpa pinnata)、长吻纽鳃樽(Brooksia rostrata)、锯齿海樽(Doliolum denticulatum)、肥胖箭虫(Sagitta enflata)和介形类.聚类分析和主要成分分析的结果表明:受海流影响,春季(5月份)渤海浮游动物群落可以划分成近岸型、受黄海海流影响的外海型以及过渡类型.夏季(8月份)由于水文条件的差异,群落结构比较复杂.秋、冬季(11月份、2月份)主要是以近岸类型为主,这可能同该海区盛行东北风有关.     

烟台近海浮游动物优势种空间生态位研究

根据2018年春、夏季烟台近海海域的调查资料,以浮游动物优势种(类)为研究对象,运用Levins公式和Pianka指数分析了浮游动物优势种(类)的生态位宽度和生态位重叠程度,采用冗余分析(RDA)研究了影响浮游动物优势种(类)空间生态位分化的主要因素。研究结果表明,浮游幼虫和桡足类是烟台近海浮游动物群落结构的主要组成群体,春、夏季浮游动物优势种(类)更替率为73.33%。依据烟台近海浮游动物优势种(类)的生态位宽度值,可将其划分为广生态位、中生态位和窄生态位三大类群,广生态位种类为浮游动物优势种(类)的主要构成群体,春季代表种类有短角长腹剑水蚤(Oithona brevicornis)、拟长腹剑水蚤(Oithona similis)等,夏季代表种类有小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)、克式纺锤水蚤(Acartia clausi)等。生态位重叠指数与物种分布的环境位点的重合情况密切相关,广生态位种类之间的生态位重叠程度要高于窄生态位种类与其他种类之间的生态位重叠程度。RDA分析表明,春季影响浮游动物优势种(类)空间生态位分化的主要因素为海水温度、盐度和无机氮(DIN),夏季为海水盐度、叶绿素a(Chl a)、无机氮(DIN)和活性磷酸盐(PO_4-P)。     

钦州湾秋季和春季浮游动物分布特征及影响因素

为了解钦州湾浮游动物群落的时空分布特征及与主要环境因子的关系,于2014年10月和2015年3月进行了秋季和春季两航次的调查。结果表明:该海湾的浮游动物群落有明显的季节变化。秋季共鉴定出12类87种,其中优势种有太平洋纺锤水蚤(Acartia pacifica)、肥胖三角溞(Evadne tergestina)、亨生莹虾(Lucifer hanseni)、百陶箭虫(Sagitta bedoti)和长尾类幼虫(Macrura larvae);春季共鉴定出11类48种,优势种为中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)和太平洋纺锤水蚤;秋季浮游动物的平均丰度、生物量和多样性指数(528.92个/m~3、110.60 mg/m~3和2.22)均高于春季(48.30个/m~3、61.10 mg/m~3和1.70)。空间分布上,钦州湾外湾浮游动物丰度、生物量和多样性指数的平均值皆高于内湾。多维尺度分析表明,秋季内湾群落相似性较高,春季外湾浮游动物群落相似性较高。相关性分析表明盐度与营养盐是影响钦州湾浮游动物分布的主要环境因子。与2011—2012年数据相比,钦州湾浮游动物群落结构已趋于单一化和小型化,以致生物量明显下降。这一现象主要与钦州湾海水富营养化以及大面积高密度牡蛎养殖有密切的关系。     

Community characteristics and of zooplankton in Qinzhou Bay

Qinzhou Bay, the biggest bay in Guangxi Province, is very species-rich and is developing a robust marine economy. In recent years, as human impact has increased, problems associated with the environment have become more complicated. Measuring zooplankton diversity and abundance is a way to monitor environmental conditions. According to the data from four ecological surveys of the zooplankton in Qinzhou Bay during 2008 and 2009, a total of 134 species of zooplankton were identified, including 52 Copepoda species, 27 Medusa species, 14 Planktonic larvae, 9 Chaetognatha species, 8 Pteropoda species, 5 Amphipoda species, 4 Cladocera species, 4 Ostracoda species, 3 Thaliacea species, 2 Appendiculata species, 2 Sergestdae species, 2 Protlsta species, 1 Rotiera species and 1 Cumacea species. The fauna was clearly characterized as tropical population. The total species number was highest in autumn, followed by spring, winter and summer. Zooplankton species diversity in Qinzhou Bay has increased compared with the results obtained in 1983–1985 (83 species). However, compared with other bays, the number of zooplankton species in Qinzhou Bay is close to Daya Bay (128), higher than in Zhilin Bay (60), Jiaozhou Bay (81) and Luoyuan Bay (70), and far lower than in the north South Sea (709). We adopted the dominant index Y > 0.02 as the distinguishing standard of dominant species. The number of dominant species in spring, summer, autumn and winter were six, nine, eight and five. There was only one common dominant species (Penilia avirostris) appeared in different seasons, For summer and autumn, the shared dominant species numbered about four. Between other seasons, the shared dominant species varied between two and three. The number of uniquely dominant species was four in summer, three in autumn and one in both spring and winter. The dominant species in different seasons have some overlaps and some differences. The average biomass of zooplankton was 378 mg/m³ at all times of year. The average biomass was largest in autumn, followed by winter, and was the least in spring and summer. The average density of zooplankton for the entire year was 805.11 ind/m³. The average density was largest in summer, followed by winter, and was least in autumn and spring. Copepoda and Planktonic larvae were the major components of zooplankton in spring and summer at Qinzhou Bay, with the other species’ densities under 10%. In autumn, Copepoda, Planktonic larvae and Chaetognatha were the major components of the biomass, and in winter, the major species were Copepoda and Cladocera, with the others species’ density under 10%. The average value of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) was 3.84 and the evenness index (J′) was 0.77. The zooplankton diversity index and community evenness overall were good and the community organization had a complete and stable state, but the status of the community was relatively weak. The relationship between biomass/density of zooplankton and environmental factors is remarkable. Biomass and density are positively correlated with temperature and nutrient concentration, and are negatively correlated with salinity.     

Mesozooplankton community in the Bay of Bengal (India): spatial variability during the summer monsoon

This study addresses the spatial variability in mesozooplankton biomass and composition in the Central and Western Bay of Bengal (India) during the summer monsoon season of 2001. Perennially warmer sea surface temperatures (>28°C), stratified top layer (sea surface salinity, 28–33 psu), high turbidity, and low nutrient concentrations due to weak/null upwelling and light limitation make the Bay of Bengal a region of low primary productivity. Despite this, mesozooplankton biomass values, i.e. 2.9–104 mg C m⁻³ in the Central Bay and 1.3–31 mg C m⁻³ in the Western Bay, observed in the mixed layer (2–51 m) during the summer monsoon were in the same range as reported from the more productive Arabian Sea. Mesozooplankton biomass was five times and density 18 times greater at stations with signatures of cold-core eddies, causing a higher spatial heterogeneity in zooplankton distribution. Among the 27 taxonomic groups recorded during the season, Copepoda was the most abundant group in all samples followed by Chaetognatha. The dominant order of Copepoda, Calanoida, was represented by 132 species in a total of 163 species recorded. Oncaea venusta was the key copepod species in the Bay. In the Central Bay, the predominant copepod species were carnivorous/omnivorous vis-a-vis mostly herbivores in the Western Bay. Pleuromamma indica increased to its maximum abundance at 18°N in the Central Bay, coinciding with the lowest dissolved oxygen concentrations. The Central Bay had higher mesozooplankton biomass, copepod species richness and diversity than in the Western Bay. Although zooplankton biomass and densities were greater at the eddy stations, correlation between zooplankton and chl a was not statistically significant. It appears that the grazer mesozooplankton rapidly utilize the enhanced phytoplankton production in cold-core eddies.     

Estimated copepod production rate and structure of mesozooplankton communities in the coastal Barents Sea during summer–autumn 2007

The southern Barents Sea is considered to be the most productive area in the Arctic Ocean; however, there are no assessments of daily production rates in the coastal waters. During the summer and autumn of 2007, we investigated the variation of mesozooplankton community structure relative to environmental conditions at 12 coastal stations. Copepods dominated the total zooplankton biomass and abundance during both periods. Diversity indices and the total biomass of zooplankton communities differed significantly between the two seasons. Cluster analyses revealed two distinct groups of stations which were associated with Ura Bay and the adjacent open sea, respectively. Daily production rates of the copepod species examined were calculated using three methods based on: (1) a temperature-dependent equation and (2) two multiple regressions that consider temperature, body weight, and chlorophyll a concentration. Significant seasonal differences for daily production rates were found using all three model equations (p?<?0.05): 358?±?188–1,775?±?791 versus 198?±?85–1,584?±?559?μg?dry?mass?m^?3?day^?1. Results of principal components analyses demonstrated that the abundance and biomass of herbivorous species were related to variation in chlorophyll a concentration while the abundance and biomass of other species (omnivorous copepods and Ctenophora) were related mainly with water temperature and salinity. Mesozooplankton biomass was higher during this study relative to previous studies. Computed copepod production rates were higher compared with other Arctic seas confirming a high productive potential of the coastal southern Barents Sea.     

南沙群岛美济礁海域夏季浮游动物群落特征

浮游动物是珊瑚礁生态系统中的重要组成部分,但国内相关研究相对较少。利用2012年7月在南沙群岛美济礁海域开展的13个站次的海洋生物调查数据,对美济礁浮游动物的群落特征进行研究,表明:(1)美济礁浮游动物种类组成丰富,共出现15个类群138种(类)浮游动物;(2)优势种组成复杂、区域变化明显,单一种的优势度不高;(3)浮游动物平均密度和湿重生物量分别为117.70个/m3、69.01 mg/m3,浮游幼虫在总密度中所占比例最大;(4)浮游动物非常丰富,多样性程度较高。平均丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度分别为4.93、3.33和0.67;(5)浮游动物可划分为2个群落,分别为潟湖-礁坪区群落和向海坡群落;(6)受珊瑚礁不同生物地貌带的空间异质性和水动力条件的影响,美济礁浮游动物群落区域差异明显。潟湖区浮游动物多样性较高,生物量最低;礁坪区浮游动物数量大,但分布不均匀,且多样性水平最低;向海坡区浮游动物种类最多、多样性非常丰富,但栖息密度最低。     

三峡三期蓄水后长江口海域浮游动物群落特征及影响因子

根据2010年8月、11月以及2011年5月3个航次、各次24个监测点的调查数据,分析了三峡工程三期蓄水后一个水文年内长江口浮游动物优势种、湿重生物量及丰度的变化,并用BIOENV筛选出影响浮游动物分布的关键环境因子。结果表明:长江口浮游动物春季绝对优势种为夜光虫(Noctiluca scientillans)与中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus),夏季绝对优势种为太平洋纺锤水蚤(Acartia pacifica steuer),秋季绝对优势种为针刺拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus aculeatus);浮游动物湿重生物量夏季(970.6 mg/m~3)秋季(613.8 mg/m~3)春季(571.5 mg/m~3),丰度夏季(783.5个/m~3)春季(691.3个/m~3)秋季(399.5个/m~3);影响浮游动物分布的关键环境因子为底层盐度、底层温度及底层硅酸盐。     

The distribution of zooplankton and bowhead whales, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Balaena mysticetus</Emphasis> Linnaeus, 1758, in Akademiya Bay,Sea of Okhotsk

The modern pattern of distribution and feeding habits of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, in the Sea of Okhotsk are studied. The existence of a feeding aggregation of this whale species in the southwesternmost portion (apex) of Ulban Bay has been confirmed. There, the animals feed in shallow waters with depths of 3–5 m, which are only slightly larger than their body height. The quantitative composition and species structure of zooplankton at the stations that were set near feeding whales have been analyzed. In the samples taken in the immediate proximity to the feeding whales, the abundance of zooplankton reached 31409 ind./m³, with the average value of 17565 ind./m³. The lowest abundance, from 56 to 1879 ind./m³ (mean 927 ind./m³), was in the samples from western Konstantin Bay, where bowhead whales were not observed. In 16 samples collected in the immediate proximity to the feeding whales in the shallow waters of Ulban Bay, the average zooplankton biomass was 547.9 mg/m³, which is 3.9 times higher than that in the samples from waters where the whales were absent. Copepods dominated quantitatively at all the stations in Akademiya Bay. The proportion of euphausiids in the zooplankton biomass was lower than 1%, both near the feeding whales and in the absence of whales.