Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microsetella norvegica: a rare report of a potentially abundant copepod on the Scotian Shelf

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fine mesh (0.080 mm) zooplankton samples were collected along an onshore-offshore transect during three cruises (February to May, 1983) off southwest Nova Scotia, Canada. The small harpacticoid copepod Microsetella norvegica was numerically the dominant copepod during the winter (February) cruise, where it composed up to 50% of the total zooplankton, and was consistently among the three most abundant copepods during the spring cruises. Due to its small size (<0.45 mm in length), M. norvegica has rarely been reported from plankton surveys of the northwest Atlantic. However, existing reports indicated it varies interannually from being a rare to an abundant member of the zooplankton community in the northwest Atlantic.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Anraku, M.: Microdistribution of marine copepods in a small inlet. Mar. Biol. 30, 79–88 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigelow, H. B. and M. Sears: Studies of the waters on the continental shelf, Cape Cod to Chesapeake Bay. III. A volumetric study of the zooplankton. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Har. Univ. 54, 183–378 (1939)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boxshall, G. A.: The planktonic copepods of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean: Harpacticoida, Siphonostomatoida, and Mormonilloida. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Zool.) 35, 201–264 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, C. S.: Preliminary estimates of extrusion from 0.333 mm and 0.165 mm mesh plankton nets. NAFO SCR 80/IX/132 (1980)

  • Davis, C. S.: Predatory control of copepod seasonal cycles on Georges Bank. Mar. Biol. 82, 31–40 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, C. J.: Observations on the biology of Microsetella norvegica. Pap. mar. Biol. Oceanogr., Deep Sea Res. 3 (suppl.), 242–249 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fournier, R. O., M. Van Det, N. B. Hargreaves, J. S. Wilson, T. A. Clair and R. Ernst: Physical factors controlling summer distribution of chlorophyll a off southwest Nova Scotia. Limnol. Oceanogr, 29, 517–526 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goswami, S. C.: Zooplankton abundance in the Laccadive Sea Lakshadweep, India. Indian J. mar. Sci. 8, 232–237 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grice, G. D. and A. D. Hart: The abundance, seasonal occurrence, and distribution of the epizooplankton between New York and Bermuda. Ecol. Monogr. 32, 287–309 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirakawa, K.: Biology of a pelagic harpacticoid copepod Microsetella norvegica in Oshoro Bay Hokkaido, Japan. Bull. Plankt. Soc. Jpn 21, 41–54 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirota, R. and M. Hara: Zooplankton investigations in Yatsushiro-Kai Western Kyushu, Japan. Part 1. Regional and seasonal occurrences of the important zooplankton. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Jpn 31, 115–123 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Judkins, D. C., C. D. Wireck and W. E. Esaias: Composition, abundance, and distribution of zooplankton in the New York Bight, Sept. 1974-Sept. 1975. Fish. Bull., U.S. 77, 669–683 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Koslow, J. A. and R. O. Fournier: Spatial structure of the pelagic community in summer off southwest Nova Scotia. (In preparation)

  • Mori, T.: The pelagic copepods from the neighboring waters of Japan, 149 pp. Tokyo: Soyo. Co. 1964

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, G. A., H. Stommel and D. F. Bumpus: Quantitative ecology of the plankton of the western North Atlantic. Bull. Bing. oceanogr. Collect. 12, 1–169 (1949)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sameoto, D. D.: Zooplankton biomass, density, and their association with phytoplankton on the southwest area of the Nova Scotia Shelf. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. aquat. Sci. No. 752, 25 pp. 1977

  • Sameoto, D. D. and M. K. Lewis: Zooplankton and micronekton associated with acoustic scatering layers on the Nova Scotia Shelf and Slope during May 1977. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. aquat. Sci. No. 875, 44 pp. 1980a

  • Sameoto, D. D. and M. K. Lewis: Zooplankton and micronekton associated with acoustic scattering layers on the Nova Scotia Shelf and Slope during June, 1978. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. aquat. Sci. No. 936, 32 pp. 1980b

  • Townsend, D. W.: Comparison of inshore zooplankton and ichthyoplankton populations of the Gulf of Maine. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 15, 79–90 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay, M. J. and J. C. Roff: Community gradients in the Scotian Shelf zooplankton. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 40, 598–611 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. T. and M. Dagg: Vertical distribution of continental shelf zooplankton in stratified and isothermal waters. Biol. Oceanogr. 3, 1–40 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. C. Dugas

    Present address: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, South Ferry Road, 02882, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, B3H 4JI, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    J. C. Dugas & J. A. Koslow

Authors
  1. J. C. Dugas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. A. Koslow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by R. W. Doyle, Halifax

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dugas, J.C., Koslow, J.A. Microsetella norvegica: a rare report of a potentially abundant copepod on the Scotian Shelf. Mar. Biol. 84, 131–134 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392997

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392997

Keywords

Search

Navigation