Long-term dynamics of zooplankton in the southeastern Baltic Sea

Long-term research in the Baltic Sea revealed the basic trends of zooplankton community variations depending on oceanographic processes. Alternation of the periods of increase and decrease in salinity of the Baltic Sea against the background of climate changes (temperature increase) and eutrophication affect the state of the entire Baltic ecosystem, including zooplankton. For these periods, the dynamics of zooplankton in the Baltic Sea were analyzed based on literature data and results of regular research in the southeastern Baltic Sea during 1998–2007. The changes in the hydrological situation were accompanied by significant changes in the zooplankton community. In the 1990s–2000s, the abundance and biomass of brackish-water and thermophilous species primarily of Cladocera and Copepoda increased markedly. The role of the previously dominant marine copepod Pseudocalanus elongatus decreased due to salinity reduction in the deep-water part of the Baltic Sea. Maximum development of zooplankton occurred in years of the greatest warming-up of the water (2001, 2005–2007) against the background of a general positive trend of zooplankton abundance in the last decade.     

Periodicity of composition, abundance, and vertical distribution of summer zooplankton (1977/1978) in Ezcurra Inlet, Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland)

Seasonal succession and variation in species composition, density,biomass, age distribution and frequency of zooplankton (mainlythe Copepoda) were analysed during the austral summer of of1977/1978 in Ezcurra Inlet, a part of the Antarctic coastalecosystem. Small zooplankters (i.e., cyclopoids of the generaOncaea and Oithona, and calanoids Drepanopus pectinatus andScolocithricella glacialis) were found to predominate in termsof abundance and percentage contribution. The zooplankton biomasswas dominated by larger organisms of the Metrididae and Calanidae(Calanoida). The maximum abundance and maximum biomass of copepodswere recorded in February; two small peaks in copepod biomassbeing observed in late December and late January, and a lesserbiomass peak in late December. The vertical distribution ofcopepods in terms of their diel and seasonal (December, January,February, March) changes showed a day-time maximum to have occurredin the near-bottom layer, the nocturnal distribution being bimodalwith peaks within 0–10 m and 25–50 m. The summerzooplankton community in Ezcurra Inlet is controlled by trophic(phytoplankton composition and density) and hydrological (waterexchange with Bransfield Strait) conditions prevailing in thearea.     

Environmental factors influencing diurnal distribution of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton

The diurnal vertical distribution of a large number of speciesof zooplankton, icbthyoplankton and micronekton were determinedin the top 150 m in three locations in the Shelf Water, on theNova Scotia Shelf, and Slope and on Georges Bank during springand fall periods. Species were categorized as to their trophiclevel and their type of diurnal migration behaviour. The influenceof temperature, salinity, and water density on the diurnal verticaldistribution of the species was examined. Temperature was foundto have the greatest influence on the distribution of the largestnumber of species. Diurnal migration behavior of the same speciesin Shelf and Slope water and at different times of the yearwas examined. Results showed that species changed their behaviorin the two water masses, while some species changed their migrationbehavior at different times of the year. During the night inApril the most abundant copepod species, Calanus finmarchicus,making up about 80% of the biomass, was found concentrated abovethe thermocline and the main chlorophyll layer. The majorityof the less abundant species of copepods were found below thethermocline and the chlorophyll layer. At night in August thetwo most abundant copepod species, Centropoger typicus and Paracalanusparvus, making up at least 80% of the zooplankton biomass, werealso concentrated above the thermocline and the main chlorophyllLayer. Three species of copepods were concentrated at the depthof the main chlorophyll layer and two species were concentratedbelow the chlorophyll layer and thermocline. The vertical distributionof other zooplankton and ichthyoplankton species was examinedin relation to the thermocline and chlorophyll layer. Relationshipsbetween concentrations of six species of fish larvae and allspecies of copepods in the same samples showed a general increasein the numbers of larvae m^–3 as the numbers of copepodsm^–3 increased in a range of 500–4000 m^–3.However, the concentration of Merluccius bilinearis decreasedas the concentration of copepods exceeded 4000 m^–3 suggestingthat high concentrations of copepods may not be a favourableenvironment for the larvae.     

鄱阳湖丰水期水位波动对浮游动物群落演替的影响

为了解鄱阳湖夏季丰水期水位剧烈波动过程中浮游动物的群落演替特征,2012年夏季鄱阳湖水位剧烈波动期间,于6月24日、7月7日和8月27日当水位下降且接近17.6 m时,在江西鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区内的1个浅水碟形湖泊设置4个采样点进行采样调查。共发现浮游动物65种,其中轮虫52种,枝角类7种,桡足类6种,多为营浮游生活的广温性和嗜温性种类。单因子方差分析(one-way ANOVA)显示3个月之间浮游动物的密度和生物量均具有显著差异(P0.05),7月份浮游动物密度(1030.17±68.18个/L)显著高于6月份(325.16±41.60个/L)和8月份(203.79±24.91个/L);6月份浮游动物的生物量(0.56±0.04 mg/L)显著低于7月份(1.22±0.11 mg/L)和8月份(0.99±0.11 mg/L)。基于浮游动物多度的聚类分析和自组织映射神经网络图均揭示夏季3个月份的浮游动物可区分为明显的3个群落:6月群落、7月群落和8月群落。蒙特卡罗检验发现水温、电导率、浊度和溶氧与浮游动物群落结构变化显著相关(P0.05)。典型相关分析显示,6月份浮游动物群落与叶绿素a含量呈显著正相关关系,7月份浮游动物群落与水体温度呈显著正相关关系,8月份浮游动物群落与水深和电导率、浊度和溶氧呈显著正相关关系(P0.05)。在3个月均为优势物种的盖氏精囊轮虫与叶绿素a含量呈正相关关系(P0.05),与水温、pH、溶氧呈负相关(P0.05)。夏季水位波动过程中浮游动物的群落结构在时间上(月份之间)发生明显演替,呈现轮虫密度逐渐降低,枝角类和桡足类密度逐渐增加的变化规律。水位波动引起环境因子的改变,从而对浮游动物的群落演替产生了重要影响。     

Temporal changes in zooplankton composition in a hypersaline,Antarctic lake subject to periodic seawater incursions

Colonisation of Lake Fletcher, a hypersaline, meromictic lake in the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica, by the calanoid copepod Drepanopus bispinosus, the cyclopoid copepod Oncea curvata and an undescribed cydippid ctenophore is discussed. In 1978, salinity directly under the ice was 66‰ and repeated net hauls found no zooplankton. In 1983, adults of D. bispinosus were found, and in 1984, a reproductively active population of this species. Surface water salinity in 1984 was 56‰. During winter 1986, surface salinity was 54‰ and three zooplankton species (D. bispinosus, O. curvata and an undescribed cydippid ctenophore) had established populations in the lake. In 1986/87, high tides caused nearby Taynaya Bay to flood into the lake, and three further species (the calanoid, Paralabidocera antarctica, and two harpacticoids, Harpacticus furcatus and Idomene sp.) were found in the lake. It appears that periodic flooding after 1978 caused a salinity decrease in the lake from 66 to 54‰, and this enabled some invertebrate species to maintain year-round populations, whereas others require marine incursions to re-establish summer only populations.     

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。     

Seasonal and spatial variations in the zooplankton community of an Eastern Antarctic coastal location

Summary The zooplankton community of a shallow coastal area in Eastern Antarctica was found to be one of low species diversity dominated by Copepoda. It was comprised of the more common Antarctic oceanic copepod species, medusae, molluscs, euphausiids, several copepod species associated with the ice-water interface and, in summer, benthic fauna larvae. Most species of copepods displayed a marked seasonality in abundance with peak numbers between March and May. It is proposed that several factors, including phytoplankton seasonality contribute to the zooplankton species composition, zooplankton seasonality, and to the temporal differences in the period of maximum abundance between copepod species. Annual vertical migratory behaviour in conjunction with the circulation of Prydz Bay are important determining factors for those species which can be considered as oceanic; Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus, Ctenocalanus citer, Metridia gerlachei, Oithona similis and Oncaea curvata. However, for copepod species which can be classified as inshore residents, such as Stephos longipes, Paralabidocera antarctica and Drepanopus bispinosus, it is their association with the ice water interface that determines their seasonal appearance and abundance. Some differences were established between the zooplankton community of the Vestfold Hills and that of other Antarctic coastal regions. This may be attributed, in part, to the extensive shallow areas of the Vestfold Hills coastal region. Spatial distribution of the zooplankton with depth and between sites was investigated and found to be essentially homogenous. When differences were established, in the majority of cases all species present, all age classes and both sexes contributed to the differences.     

Seasonal abundance of medusae in Eel Pond, Massachusetts, USA during 1990-1991

Weekly zooplankton net samples collected from Eel Pond, WoodsHole. MA. USA. during 1990–1991 demonstrated that maximumdiversity and abundance of medusae occurred from mid-Januarythrough early May.     

Seasonal variations in copepod size: effects of temperature, food abundance, and vertebrate predation

Seasonal dry weights of female and male Cyclops bicuspidatusthomasi, Diaptomus ashlandi and Diaptomus minutus were studiedin southeastern Lake Michigan during 1975–1981. Smallestanimals occurred during summer and early fall, and largest animalsin winter and spring, a pattern reported for other copepods.The range of weights for the species and sexes decreased fromwinter to summer, and converged in summer to a value of approximately2 µg/animal. Surface water temperature and abundancesof young-of-the-year (YOY) fish were inversely correlated withweights of males and females of the three copepod species. Standingstocks of important phytoplankton groups, especially pennatediatoms and flagellates, were positively correlated with copepodweight. Seasonal change of copepod body size appears to be morethan simply a function of temperature; seasonal predation byYOY fish may be a factor influencing sizes of adult copepods.     

Spatial heterogeneity of zooplankton biomass and size structure in southern Quebec lakes: variation among lakes and within lake among epi-, meta- and hypolimnion strata

Environmental control of zooplankton biomass size structure(53–100, 100–202, 202–500 and >500 µm)was investigated in the three limnetic strata of 25 southernQuébec Shield lakes, Canada. Among-lake differences werethe greatest source of variation of zooplankton biomass, whereasthe strong lake–by–stratum interaction observedindicated that the vertical variations of zooplankton biomassand its size fractions were not constant from lake to lake.The analysis of spatial and local factors based on thermal stratais consistent with conceptual models of predation and nutrientcontrol on the biomass and size structure of the zooplankton.Productivity of the aquatic systems, which was driven by lakedepth, flushing rate and total phosphorus concentration, wasthe primary factor influencing total zooplankton biomass andsize structure at among-lake scale in epilimnetic waters. Theeffects of the planktivorous fish on the large zooplankton biomass(>500 µm) was more clearly perceived when the effectof lake depth was removed by partial redundancy analysis. Thisstudy showed that although bottom-up and top-down forces arecomplementary in structuring of zooplankton communities, theycan also act differently on the community attributes (e.g. biomassand size structure). Among-lake zooplankton biomass is predictablefrom lake trophy, but the size structure and vertical distributionof zooplankton communities appear to be controlled by lake stratificationand by inference to interactions with size selective predationby fish. In metalimnetic waters, the 53–100 and 100–202µm zooplankton biomass fractions were primarily dependenton abiotic factors, while the 202–500 and >500 µmfractions were related to planktivory and picophytoplanktonconcentrations. The well-oxygenated and cold hypolimnetic watersof some lakes offered a refuge from surface turbulence and planktivoryto large zooplankton size fractions (202–500 and >500µm).     

Field and experimental studies on the combined impacts of cyanobacterial blooms and small algae on crustacean zooplankton in a large,eutrophic, subtropical,Chinese lake

Field and experimental studies were conducted to evaluate the combined impacts of cyanobacterial blooms and small algae on seasonal and long-term changes in the abundance and community structure of crustacean zooplankton in a large, eutrophic, Chinese lake, Lake Chaohu. Seasonal changes of the crustacean zooplankton from 22 sampling stations were investigated during September 2002 and August 2003, and 23 species belonging to 20 genera were recorded. Daphnia spp. dominated in spring but disappeared in mid-summer, while Bosmina coregoni and Ceriodaphnia cornuta dominated in summer and autumn. Both maximum cladoceran density (310 ind. l⁻¹) and biomass (5.2 mg l⁻¹) appeared in autumn. Limnoithona sinensis, Sinocalanus dorrii and Schmackeria inopinus were the main species of copepods. Microcystis spp. were the dominant phytoplankton species and formed dense blooms in the warm seasons. In the laboratory, inhibitory effects of small colonial Microcystis on growth and reproduction of Daphnia carinata were more remarkable than those of large ones, and population size of D. carinata was negatively correlated with density of fresh large colonial Microcystis within a density range of 0–100 mg l⁻¹ (r = −0.82, P< 0.05). Both field and experimental results suggested that seasonal and long-term changes in the community structure of crustacean zooplankton in the lake were shaped by cyanobacterial blooms and biomass of the small algae, respectively, i.e., colonial and filamentous cyanobacteria contributed to the summer replacement of dominant crustacean zooplankton from large Daphnia spp. to small B. coregoni and C. cornuta, while increased small algae might be responsible for the increased abundance of crustacean zooplankton during the past decades.     

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。     

Effects of the “Amoco Cadiz” oil spill on zooplankton

A survey of zooplankton physiology on the northern coast of Brittany (France) was carried out over a one-year period by comparing two estuarine areas, one oil-polluted area (Aber Benoit) following the oil spill by the tanker “Amoco Cadiz” and one non-oil-polluted area (Rade de Brest). A new approach to an ecological survey was made by describing trophic relationships using analysis of digestive enzyme equipment (amylase and trypsin) of zooplankton organisms, mesoplankton populations and some selected species. These measurements allowed determination of (a) groups of populations with homogeneous trophic and faunistic characteristics and (b) groups of species with homogeneous trophic characteristics. The study of the appearance of these groups over a one-year period revealed the succession of populations and their adaptation to the environment on the basis of biochemical analysis. These phenomena observed in the compared areas showed marked differences in the most polluted areas during the productive spring period. Specific treatment of the data using unusual correlations between digestive enzymes is discussed in terms of the immediate effect on the whole population and on a copepod (Anomalocera patersoni) living in the upper 10 cm.     

Fish-induced changes in zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton and bacterioplankton: a long-term study in shallow hypertrophic Lake Sobygaard

The impact of fish-mediated changes on the structure and grazingof zooplankton on phytoplankton and bacterioplankton was studiedin Lake Søbygaard during the period 1984–92 bymeans of in vitro grazing experiments (¹⁴C-labelled phytoplankton,³H-labelled bacterioplankton) and model predictions. Measuredzooplankton clearance rates ranged from 0–25 ml l^–1h^–1 on phytoplankton to 0–33 ml l^–1 h^–1on bacterioplankton.The highest rates were found during thesummer when Daphnia spp. were dominant. As the phytoplanktonbiomass was substantially greater than that of bacterioplanktonthroughout the study period, ingestion of phytoplankton was26-fold greater than that of bacterioplankton. Multiple regressionanalysis of the experimental data revealed that Daphnia spp.,Bosmina longirostris and Cyclops vicinus, which were the dominantzooplankton, all contributed significantly to the variationin ingestion of phytoplankton, while only Daphnia spp. contributedsignificantly to that of bacterioplankton. Using estimated meanvalues for clearance and ingestion rates for different zooplankters,we calculated zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton and bacterioplanktonon the basis of monitoring data of lake plankton obtained duringa 9 year study period. Summer mean grazing ranged from 2 to4% of phytoplankton production and 2% of bacterioplankton productionto maxima of 53 and 88%, respectively. The grazing percentagedecreased with increasing density of planktivorous fish caughtin August each year using gill nets and shore-line electrofishing.The changes along a gradient of planktivorous fish abundanceseemed highest for bacterioplankton. Accordingly, the percentagecontribution of bacterioplankton to the total ingestion of thetwo carbon sources decreased from a summer mean value of 8%in Daphnia-dominated communities at lower fish density to 0.7–1.1%at high fish density, when cyclopoid copepods or Bosmina androtifers dominated. Likewise, the percentage of phytoplanktonproduction channelled through the bacteria varied, it beinghighest (5–8%) at high fish densities. It is argued thatthe negative impact of zooplankton grazing on bacterioplanktonin shallow lakes is highest at intermediate phosphorus levels,under which conditions Daphnia dominate the zooplankton community.     

Copepod daily egg production and growth rates in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico

The hydrography, chlorophyll (Chl) a and egg production of thecopepods Paracalanus parvus (Claus), Acartia lilljeborgii Giesbrecht,Acartia clausi Giesbrecht and Centropages furcatus were estimateddaily between 7 February and 5 March 1998 in Bahía Magdalena,Baja California Sur, México. Temperature was homogeneousthroughout the water column during the study (20°C). Positiveanomalies of the sea surface temperature were recorded 10 monthsbefore and during the sampling period compared with a temperature–timeseries, 1982–1989. Chlorophyll a concentration indicatedoligotrophic conditions with <10 Chl a mg m^–2 from15 m depth to the surface during the first half of the study,with a pulse of moderate concentration in the second part. Theegg production of these copepod species was usually suboptimal,and not correlated with Chl concentration or temperature. Eachgenus responded differently to Chl a and to environmental variables.The rate of input of turbulent kinetic energy to the ocean bythe winds, indicated by the cube of the wind speed, was negativelycorrelated to copepod egg production, suggesting that turbulencecan disperse phytoplankton patches and may affect the carboninput to these copepod populations. Turbulence and a previouslong warming event observed several months before the winterseason were probably the most important factors in limitingcopepod production and growth rates.     

Phytoplankton and zooplankton response to ultraviolet radiation in a high-altitude Andean lake: short- versus long-term effects

Exclusion experiments on global UV (A and B) radiation and globalUVB were performed in 460 I mesocosms with plankton communitiesfrom the oligotrophic Andean lake Laguna Negra (33°35'S–70°04'W;2700 m a.s.l.). The experiments were run for 30 days duringthe summers of 1991–1992 and 1992–1993, and for48 days in 1993–1994. When UVB radiation was allowed toenter into the mesocosms (full sun), the population of Ankyrajudayi (Chlorophyta) reached the highest density, suggestingthat this species can endure high levels of UV radiation. Concurrently,an increase in chlorophyll a concentration was observed in thistreatment. The cladoceran Chydorus sphaericus and the rotiferLepadella ovallts were strongly inhibited by UVB. Conversely,UVB radiation had no effect on the survival of the differentlife stages of the calanoid copepod Boeckela gractlipes, suggestinga species-specific difference in the sensitivity to solar UVBradiation. Moreover, no reduction in the number of copepod eggsper female and the number of nauplii produced was observed.Apparently, herbivory does not strongly affect phytoplanktonabundance. Moreover, the phytoplankton species composition changedin the different treatments over the time. Fragilaria construensand Fragilaria crotonensis were dominant in those mesocosmswhere UVB was excluded. Populations fluc tuated depending ontheir life cycles and the period of time they were exposed toUVB radiation. It is important to define the time scale of exclusionexperiments, because different conclusions about the influenceof UVB irradiance result from short-, medium- or long-term exposures.     

Composition,size, and biomass of zooplankton in large productive Florida lakes

Crustacean zooplankton data were compiled from long-term observational studies at seven large shallow Florida lakes, to determine whether there are general characteristics in regard to species composition, body size, and biomass. In particular, we examined whether patterns in body size and species richness fit empirical models developed by Stanley Dodson. The lakes included range in size from 125 to 1730 km² and encompass mesotrophic to hyper-eutrophic conditions. We found that zooplankton biomass was strongly dominated by one species of calanoid copepod—Arctodiaptomus dorsalis. Large daphnids were absent, and Cladocera assemblages were dominated by small taxa such as Ceriodaphnia, Chydorus, and Eubosmina. The total number of species of pelagic cladocerans (8–12) was consistent with Dodson’s predictions based on lake area. The average size of crustacean zooplankton in Florida lakes is small in comparison with temperate communities. A. dorsalis is the smallest calanoid copepod in North America, and the mean length of Cladocera (0.6 mm) is consistent with Dodson’s results that size decreases from temperate to tropical zones. Total biomass of crustacean zooplankton was very low, ratios of zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass (0.01–0.1) are among the lowest reported in the literature, and the zooplankton displayed short-lasting early spring peaks in biomass. Cladocera were almost entirely absent in spring and summer. Factors known to occur in Florida lakes, which appear to explain these characteristics of biomass, include intense fish predation and high summer water temperature.     

Vertical distributions of zooplankton across the Almeria-Oran frontal zone (Mediterranean Sea)

The vertical distribution of zooplankton in the upper 700 mof the water column was investigated across the Almeria–Oranfront (Alboran Sea) during winter 1997/98 (Almofront 2 cruise).Eight sites corresponding to three hydrodynamic structures (theAtlantic jet, an anticyclonic gyre and the surrounding Mediterraneanwaters) were explored, by day and at night, using multiple-netsampling. Results are presented for the major species of copepods(>500 µm), macroplankton and microplankton. Speciesinhabiting the surface layer or occupying it at night extendeddeeper in the gyre. On the other hand, mesopelagic species (e.g.Pleuromamma borealis, Pleuromamma abdominalis, Euphausia krohniand Cyclothone braueri) were found to live deeper, at leastby day for the migrants, in the Mediterranean waters comparedwith the two other structures. These changes in preferentialdepths across the front are discussed in relation to environmentalfeatures, such as light level, abundance of food and mixed layerdepth. This study also documented the vertical distributionof some overwintering copepod species (Calanus helgolandicus,Eucalanus hyalinus and Eucalanus monachus).     

Regional and seasonal variability of zooplankton collected using sediment traps in the southeastern Beaufort Sea, Canadian Arctic

Time-series sediment traps were deployed at six mooring sites in the southeastern Beaufort Sea from October 2003 to August 2004 during the cruise of the Canadian research vessel Amundsen within the framework of the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES). Trap-collected zooplankton (TCZ) at around 200 m water depth was dominated by copepods accounting for 74–93% of the total abundance throughout the year with increase in abundance at all sites during the fall. Seven distinct TCZ groups were identified through cluster analysis. Two marked seasonal shifts in TCZ composition from late fall to early winter and from spring to early summer were revealed at five sites at 200 m depth. The zooplankton was dominated by Oncaea spp., pteropods, and copepod nauplii in the late fall cluster and in the winter cluster, and by copepod nauplii in the summer cluster. A significant change in water temperature, salinity, and sea ice concentration was observed only with the spring–summer shift. The cluster analysis also revealed that TCZ composition at 200 m at a station located in the Cape Bathurst Polynya was markedly different from those at other sites through the study period by being characterized by the dominance of various copepodite stages of Metridia longa. This was probably due to a less prolonged period of sea ice cover, which provides favorable food conditions for the zooplankton community.