Small-scale distribution of the mesozooplankton in a tropical insular system

Authors

  • Renata Polyana de Santana Campelo Universidade Federal do Ceará; Instituto de Ciências do Mar
  • Xiomara Franchesca Garcia Diaz Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências Museu de Oceanografia; Laboratório de Zooplâncton
  • Gleice Santos Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências Museu de Oceanografia; Laboratório de Zooplâncton
  • Pedro Augusto Mendes de Castro Melo Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências Museu de Oceanografia; Laboratório de Zooplâncton
  • Mauro Melo Junior Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco; Departamento de Biologia; Laboratório de Ecologia de Plâncton
  • Lucas Guedes Pereira Figueiredo Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências Museu de Oceanografia; Laboratório de Zooplâncton
  • Andrea Pinto Silva Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências Museu de Oceanografia; Laboratório de Zooplâncton
  • Luis Ernesto Arruda Bezerra Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco; Departamento de Biologia; Laboratório de Ecologia de Plâncton
  • Manuel de Jesus Flores Montes Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências Museu de Oceanografia; Laboratório de Zooplâncton
  • Sigrid Neumann-Leitão Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências Museu de Oceanografia; Laboratório de Zooplâncton

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-87592018147306601

Keywords:

Community structure, Copepoda, Sazonality, Functional traits

Abstract

In the present work, spatial and seasonal fluctuations of the abundance and diversity of mesozooplankton are presented, with special attention being given to copepod assemblages from coastal area of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNA) (3°50'24''S and 32°24'48''W). Sampling was carried out during the dry and rainy seasons of two consecutive years (July and December 2013) and (June and November 2014). A total of 37 mesozooplankton taxa were recorded, being the copepods the most diversified group (15 taxa). The Subclass Copepoda dominated in both periods sampled, comprising 53% and 86% of the total abundance in the dry and rainy season respectively. The species considered abundant were: Calanopia americana, Undinula vulgaris, Oithona plumifera and Corycaeus speciosus. The rainy season favored a significant increase in the abundance of mesozooplankton and copepods. However, a low value of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed in this same seasonal period. This was explained by the dominance of the species C. americana and U. vulgaris in the studied area. Spatial differences have not been verified. The copepod assemblages was composed mostly by species considered as predator-carnivours of greater importance on the pelagic trophic web, indicators of oligotrophic conditions and components of a major portion of fish food items. Thus, we suggest that a spatially homogeneous mesozooplankton community characterizes the coastal area of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago with variations related mainly to the seasonal factor.

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Published

2018-03-01

Issue

Section

Original Article

How to Cite

Small-scale distribution of the mesozooplankton in a tropical insular system. (2018). Brazilian Journal of Oceanography, 66(1), 15-29. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-87592018147306601