남해 전선역의 동물플랑크톤 군집 구조

Abstract

The spatial distribution of mesozooplankton and the related environmental characteristics across the frontal zone were investigated in the South Sea of Korea during spring and autumn 2016. Due to the characteristics of hydrological fronts being active in exchanges of energy and matter, it exhibits high productivity. We visited eight stations through the frontal zone formed by the Tsushima Warm Current and the Korean Southern Coastal Waters, and collected mesozooplankton by vertical tows using a standard net (200 &micro m mesh) with environmental parameters. A relatively warmer and saline water mass was observed towards the offshore waters compared to the coastal waters, and a strong temperature stratification occurred at the ecotone. The ectone was accompanied by higher total surface chlorophyll-a (chl-a, 1.4 &micro g L-1) concentrations during spring, and chl-a was ~3.0 times higher at coastal area than the ecotone (2.1 &micro g L-1) during autumn. Mesozooplankton was highly distributed near the coast and decreased towards the offshore waters. Cyclopoid-to-calanoid copepods ratio (cy:ca ratio) was highest at the ecotone (0.8) which coincided with that of chl-a in spring but was lowest at the ecotone (0.1) during autumn despite high chl-a concentration. These results suggest the formation and duration of the frontal zone may be explained with cy:ca ratio in association with environmental parameters.eing active in exchanges of energy and matter, it exhibits high productivity. We visited eight stations through the frontal zone formed by the Tsushima Warm Current and the Korean Southern Coastal Waters, and collected mesozooplankton by vertical tows using a standard net (200 &micro m mesh) with environmental parameters. A relatively warmer and saline water mass was observed towards the offshore waters compared to the coastal waters, and a strong temperature stratification occurred at the ecotone. The ectone was accompanied by higher total surface chlorophyll-a (chl-a, 1.4 &micro g L-1) concentrations during spring, and chl-a was ~3.0 times higher at coastal area than the ecotone (2.1 &micro g L-1) during autumn. Mesozooplankton was highly distributed near the coast and decreased towards the offshore waters. Cyclopoid-to-calanoid copepods ratio (cy:ca ratio) was highest at the ecotone (0.8) which coincided with that of chl-a in spring but was lowest at the ecotone (0.1) during autumn despite high chl-a concentration. These results suggest the formation and duration of the frontal zone may be explained with cy:ca ratio in association with environmental parameters.