Mesozooplankton distribution and size fraction in the northern East China Sea in summer

Abstract

Community and size fractional rate of mesozooplankton were investigated at 15 stations in the northern East China Sea in July 2006. A total of 187 mesozooplankton taxa were identified. The most abundant taxa were small sized copepods, such as Paracalanus parvus s.l., Oithona similis, and Oithona copepodites. The average carbon biomass of total mesozooplankton varied from 3.8 to 65.7 mgC m–3 (mean 16.5 mgC m–3). The maximum value of total biomass was observed in the northwestern part while the minimum value was in the southeastern part of the study area. Mesozooplankton was categorized into four size fractionated groups (0.2-0.5 mm, 0.5-1 mm, 1-2 mm and 2-5 mm). 1-2 mm size fraction was the highest among those groups. The norther East China Sea was divided into various water mass. Mesozooplankton distribution and size fractional rate varied with water masses.