Zooplankton response to a warmer northern Wadden Sea |
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Authors: | Peter Martens Justus E E van Beusekom |
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Institution: | (1) Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Wadden Sea Station Sylt Hafenstrasse 43, 25992 List/Sylt, Germany |
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Abstract: | Weekly measurements of mesozooplankton (>76 μm) and hydrographic parameters have been carried out since 1984 in the List Tidal
Basin (northern Wadden Sea). Monthly water temperature significantly increased by 0.04°C year−1. The largest increase by 3°C in 22 years occurred in September, implying an extension of the warm summer period. Mean annual
copepod abundance and length of copepod season correlated significantly with mean temperature from January to May. Except
for an increasing Acartia sp. abundance during spring (April–May), no long-term trends in copepod abundance were observed. The percentage of carnivorous
zooplankton increased significantly since 1984 mainly due to a sudden increase in the cyclopoid copepod Oithona
similis in 1997. We expect that global warming will lead to a longer copepod season and higher copepod abundances in the northern
Wadden Sea. |
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Keywords: | Zooplankton Copepods Temperature Oithona Wadden Sea Long-term change |
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