Spatial and temporal feeding patterns of copepods from the North Pacific centra gyre

摘要: Spatial and temporal feeding patterns (determined from an index of gut fullness) are described for 10 typical species calanoid copepods collected the North Pacific central gyre (September 1968 to June 1977), area where zooplankton is food limited there were a-priori reasons suspect that competition important in regulating community structure. Over 100 samples 11 cruises eastern part examined, fullness related environmental variables copepod The studied all tended be omnivores generalists. Males had lower indices than females but both males a similar spatial patterns. Guts usually fuller at night during day, even nonmigrating species; however, within nighttime depth distributions, no depths preferred feeding. There also differences between mean fullness, different have was considerable variability, locales could identified which most higher fullness. not necessarily more abundant these locales, nor did tend areas above average chlorophyll concentration. These consistent with relatively nonselective feeding, evidence separate their niches by differing places or times.