Macrozooplankton communities and environmental variables in the Barents Sea marginal ice zone in late winter and spring

摘要: The horizontal distribution of macrozooplankton (≥3 mm) was studied with respect to changes in environmental conditions along 3 transects across the marginal ice zone (MIZ) NW Barents Sea during late winter (March 2000) and spring (May 1999). water masses, which were identified by their salinity temperature characteristics, largely determined macrozooplank- ton composition, but season (late vs spring), geographical area (latitude longitude) bottom depth also important. Almost 80% total variability could be explained these variables. Ice cover algal bloom situation had no significant impact on early May). We sampled main masses: cold less saline Arctic (ArW), warm Atlantic (AtW) mixtures (MIX); 5 distinct communities found, 2 ArW (ArW bank slope), MIX (warm, >1°C, cold, <0°C, MIX) 1 AtW. These characterised differences species abundance rather than differ- ences taxonomic composition. Numerically important Calanus glacialis, C. hyperboreus, Thysanoessa inermis Aglantha digitale. terms wet biomass together Beroe cucumis, Clione limacina Sagitta elegans. Good indicator for limacina, Mertensia ovum Parathemisto libellulla, AtW spp. (T. inermis, T. longicaudata raschii). Characteristic MIX, i.e. Polar Front region, low abundance, richness compared ArW. Seasonal spring) accounted 21% macro- zooplankton variability. Particularly herbivores showed large seasonal biomass, most probably due migration patterns.