The seasonal succession of zooplankton in the Southern Ocean south of Australia, part II: The Sub-Antarctic to Polar Frontal Zones

摘要: Abstract Between October 2001 and March 2002 six transects were completed at monthly intervals in the Sub-Antarctic Zone (SAZ) Inter-Sub-Antarctic Front (ISAFZ)/Polar Frontal (PFZ) Southern Ocean south of Australia. Zooplankton collected with a Continuous Plankton Recorder NORPAC net multivariate analysis was used to analyse seasonal succession communities. Despite strong, seasonally consistent, biogeographic differences between SAZ ISAFZ/PFZ, community structure all zones dominated by suite common taxa. These included ubiquitous Oithona similis , foraminiferans appendicularians (Core taxa), occurring >97% samples contributing an average 75% total sample abundance, Calanus simillimus Rhincalanus gigas, Ctenocalanus citer, Clausocalanus brevipes, laticeps, frigida Limacina spp. chaetognaths (Summer present >57% high densities. Because dominance Core Summer taxa, most clearly evident as change zooplankton In densities averaged −3 rising 52 ind m (max=92 ind m ) November, subsequently increasing slowly through January (ave=115 ind m ; max=255 ind m ). Densities peaked abruptly February (ave=634 ind m max=1593 ind m ), remained relatively (ave=193 ind m max=789 ind m A latitudinal lag development observed peak first (February) then ISAFZ/PFZ (March). The strongly influenced species population cycles. role biogeochemical cycling discussed light past sediment trap data from study area.