Abstract
Rates of oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion and phosphate excretion were measured on a hydromedusae (Aglantha digitale), pteropods (Limacia helicina, Clione limacina), copepods (Calanus finmarchicus, C. glacialis, C. hyperboreus, Metridia longa), an amphipod (Parathemisto libellula), a euphausiid (Thysanoessa inermis) and a chaetognath (Sagitta elegans), all of which were dominant species in the Barents Sea during early summer 1987. Water and ash contents and elemental composition (C and N) were also analysed on the specimens used in these metabolic experiments. Between species variations were 67.8% to 94.7% of wet weight in water content, 6.4% to 56.5% of dry weight in ash content, 16.7% to 61.0% of dry weight in carbon content, and 4.3% to 11.2% of dry weight in nitrogen content. Oxygen consumption rates ranged from 0.33 to 13.8 μl O2 individual-1 h-1, ammonia excretion rates, from 0.0072 to 0.885 μgN individual-1 h-1 and phosphate excretion rates, from 0.0036 to 0.33 μg P individual-1 h-1. In general, higher rates were associated with larger species, but considerable differences were also seen between species. The ratios between the rates (O : N, N : P, O : P) exhibited a wide species-specific variation, indicating differences in dominant metabolic substrates. Typical protein oriented metabolism was identified only in S. elegans. From the results of metabolic rate measurements and elemental analyses, daily losses of body carbon and nitrogen were estimated to be 0.50 to 4.15% and 0.084 to 1.87%, respectively, showing faster turnover rates of carbon than that of nitrogen. Comparison of daily loss of body carbon of the Barents Sea zooplankton with that of the Antarctic zooplankton indicated reduced rates of the former (63% on average).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Andersen, A. T., Føyn, L. Jr. (1969). Dissolved oxygen and hydrogen sulphide. In: Lange, R. (ed.) Chemical oceanography, an introduction. Universitetsforlagef, Oslo, p 123–126
Båmstedt, U. (1978). Studies on the deep-sea pelagic community of Korsfjolden, Western Norway. Seasonal variation in weight and biochemical composition of Chiridius armatus (Copepoda), Boreomysis arctica (Mysidacea) and Eukrohnia hamata (Chaetognatha) in relation to their biology. Sarsia 63: 145–153
Båmstedt, U. (1985). Seasonal excretion rates of macrozooplankton from the Swedish coast. Limnol. Oceanogr. 30: 607–617
Båmstedt, U., Tande, K. S. (1985). Respiration and excretion rates of Calanus glacialis in arctic waters of the Barents Sea. Mar. Biol. 87: 259–266
Biggs, D. C. (1982). Zooplankton excretion and NH4 cycling in near-surface waters of the Southern Ocean. I. Ross Sea, austral summer 1977–1978. Polar Biol. 1: 55–67
Bridger, J. P. (1958). On efficiency tests made with a modified Gulf III high-speed tow net. J. Cons. Perm. Int. Explor. Mer. 23: 357–365
Butler, E. I., Corner, E. D. S., Marshall, S. M. (1970). On the nutrition and metabolism of zooplankton. VII. Seasonal survey of nitrogen and phosphorus excretion by Calanus in the Clyde Sea-area. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 50: 525–560
Conover, R. J., Corner, E. D. S. (1968). Respiration and nitrogenexcretion by some marine zooplankton in relation to their life cycles. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 48: 49–75
Conover, R. J., Cota, G. F. (1985). Balance experiments with Arctic zooplankton. In: Grey, J. S., Christiansen, M. E. (eds.) Marine biology of polar regions and effects of stress on marine organisms. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, p 217–236
Corner, E. D. S., Davies, A. G. (1971). Plankton as a factor in the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in the sea. Adv. Mar. Biol 9: 101–204
De Vries, A. L. (1977). The physiology of cold adaptation in polar marine poikilotherms. In: Dunbar, M. J. (ed.) Polar oceans. Arctic Institute of North America, Calgary, p 409–422
Dragesund, O., Gjosaeter J. (in press) The Barents Sea. In: Postma, H., Zijlstra, J. J. (eds.) Continental shelves. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Ekman, S. (1967). Zoogeography of the sea, Sedwik and Jackson, London
Falk-Petersen, S. (1981). Ecological investigations on the zooplankton community of Balsfjorden, northern Norway: seasonal changes in body weight and the main biochemical composition of Thysanoessa inermis (Krøyer), T. raschii (M. Sars), and Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars) in relation to environmental factors. J. exp. mar. biol. Ecol. 49: 103–120
Føyn, L., Hagebø, M., Seglem, K. (1981). Automatic analysis of nutrients with “on-line” data treatment. A presentation of the construction and performing of the system in use at the Institute of Marine Research vessels and in the laboratory. Fisken Hav. Ser B: 1–39 (in Norwegian)
George, R. Y. (1977). Dissimilar and similar trends in Antarctic and Arctic marine benthos. In: Dunbar, M. J. (ed.) Polar oceans. Arctic Institute of North America, Calgary, p 391–408
Gnaiger, E. (1983). Calculation of energetic and biochemical equivalents of respiratory oxygen consumption. In: Gnaiger, E., Horstner, H. (eds.) Polarographic oxygen sensors. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p 337–345
Harrison, W. G., Li, W. K. W., Smith, J. C., Head, E. J. H., Longhurst, A. R. (1987). Depth profiles of plankton, particulate organic matter and microbial activity in the eastern Canadian Arctic during summer. Polar Biol. 7: 207–224
Hessel, A. (1986). Seasonal changes in zooplankton composition in the Barents Sea, with special attention to Calanus spp. (Copepoda). J. Plankton Res. 8: 329–339
Head, E. J. H., Harris, L. R. (1985). Physiological and biochemical changes in Calanus hyperboreus from Jones Sound NWT during the transition from summer feeding to overwintering condition. Polar Biol. 4: 99–106
Hirche, H.-J. (1984). Temperature and metabolism of plankton. I. Respiration of Antarctic zooplankton at different temperatures with a comparison of Antarctic and Nordic krill. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 77 A: 361–368
Hirche, H.-J. (1987). Temperature and plankton. II. Effection respiration and swimming activity in copepods from the Greenland Sea. Mar. Biol. 94: 347–356
Hopkins, C. C. E., Falk-Petersen, S., Tande, K., Eilertsen, H. C. (1978). A preliminary study of zooplankton sound scattering layers in Balsfjorden: structure, energetics, and migrations. Sarsia 63: 255–264
Hopkins, C. C. E., Tande, K. S., Gronvik, S. (1984). Ecological investigations of the zooplankton community of Balsfjorden, northern Norway: An analysis of growth and overwintering tactics in relation to niche and environment in Metridia longa (Lubbock), Calanus finmarchicus (Gunners) Thysanoessa inermis (Krøyer) and T. raschi (M. Sars). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 82: 77–99
Ikeda, T. (1974). Nutritional ecology of marine zooplankton. Mem. Fac. Fish., Hokkaido University 22: 1–97
Ikeda, T. (1977). The effect of laboratory conditions on the extrapolation of experimental measurements to the ecology of marine zooplankton. IV. Changes in respiration and excretion rates of boreal zooplankton species maintained under fed and starved conditions. Mar. Biol. 41: 241–252
Ikeda, T. (1985). Metabolic rates of epipelagic marine zooplankton as a function of body mass and temperature. Mar. Biol. 85: 1–11
Ikeda, T., Bruce, B. (1986). Metabolic activity and elemental composition of krill and other zooplankton from Prydz Bay, Antarctica, during early summer (November–December). Mar. Biol. 92: 545–555
Ikeda, T., Dixon, P. (1984). The influence of feeding on the metabolic activity of antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Polar Biol. 3: 1–9
Ikeda, T., Mitchell, A. W. (1982). Oxygen uptake, ammonia excretion and phosphate excretion by krill and other antarctic zooplankton in relation to body size and chemical composition. Mar. Biol. 71: 283–298
Loeng, H. (in press) Ecological features of the Barents Sea. In: Rey, A., Alexander, V. (eds.) 6th International conference of comite arctique: marine living systems of the far north. M. M. Brill, Leiden
Mayzaud, P., Martin, J. L. M. (1975). Some aspects of the biochemical and mineral compositon of marine plankton. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 17: 297–310
Omori, M., Ikeda, T. (1984). Methods in marine zooplankton ecology, John Wiley and Sons, New York
Percy, J. A., Fife, F. J. (1981). The biochemical composition and energy content of Arctic marine macroplankton. Arctic 34: 307–313
Rey, F., Loeng, H. (1985). The influence of ice and hydrographic conditions on the development of phytoplankton in the Barents Sea. In: Grey, J. S., Christiansen, M. E. (eds.) Marine biology of polar regions and effects of stress on marine organisms. John Wiley and Sons. Chichester, p 49–63
Rey, F., Skjoldal, H. R., Slagstad, D. (1987). Primary production in relation to climatic changes in the Barents Sea. In: Loeng, H. (ed.) The effect of oceanographic conditions on distribution and population dynamics of commercial fish stocks in the Barents Sea. Proc. 3rd Soviet-Norwegian Symp., Murmansk, 26–28 May 1987, Institute of Marine Research, Berge, p 29–46
Sakshaug, E. (1986). PRO MARE — the Norwegian research program for marine Arctic ecology. Scand. Rev. 74: 44–47
Sakshaug, E., Skjoldal, H. R. (in press) Life at the ice edge. Ambio
Skjoldal, H. R., Hassel, A., Rey, F., Loeng, H. (1987). Spring phytoplankton development and zooplankton reproduction in the central Barents Sea in the period 1979–1984. In: Loeng, H. (ed.) The effect of oceanographic conditions on distribution and population dynamics of commercial fish stocks in the Barents Sea. Proc. 3rd Soviet-Norwegian Symp., Murmansk, 26–28 May 1987, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, p 59–89
Skjoldal, H. R., Rey, F. (in press) Pelagic production and variability of the Barents Sea ecosystem. In: Sherman, K., Alexander, L. M. (eds.) Biomass and geography of large marine ecosystems. Westview Press, Boulder
Snedecor, G. W., Cochran, W. G. (1967). Statistical methods, 6th ed. Iowa States University Press, Ames, Iowa
Wiebe, P. H., Burt, K. H., Boyd, S. H., Morton, A. W. (1976). A multiple opening/closing net and environmental sensing system for sampling zooplankton. J. Mar. Res. 34: 313–326
Zenkevitch, L. (1963). Biology of the seas of the USSR. George Allen and Unwin, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by M. Anraku, Tokyo
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ikeda, T., Skjoldal, H.R. Metabolism and elemental composition of zooplankton from the Barents Sea during early Arctic summer. Marine Biology 100, 173–183 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391956
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391956