Secondary production of a congeneric species assemblage of Acartia (Copepoda: Calanoida): A calculation based on the size-frequency distribution
Francisco Guerrero, Valeriano Rodríguez

We used a mean size-frequency distribution of biomass to estimate the secondary production of the congeneric species assemblage of Acartia in a semi-isolated station in Malaga harbour (SE Spain) during the summerautumn period. Acartia was the dominant copepod in the water column. Co-occurring species were A. clausi, A. grani and A. discaudata var. mediterranea. Biomass values displayed a long period cycle with large amplitude throughout this period. The cycles extended from June to October and the biomass values increased by a factor of 10x at the peak in August. Estimated average production was 13.90 mg dry wt m-3d-1 (6.26 mg C m-3 d-1). The high concentration of chlorophyll suggests that copepods can always find sufficient food for maximal growth.

Keywords: Biomass, Acartia, Size distribution, Secondary production, Copepods.
Contents of this volume Sci. Mar. 58(1-2) : 161-167 Back PDF
 
 
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