The influence of phytoplankton productivity, temperature and environmental stability on the control of copepod diversity in the North East Atlantic

摘要: The patterns of copepod species richness (S) and their relationship with phytoplankton productivity, temperature environmental stability were investigated at climatological, seasonal year-to-year time scales as well along latitudinal oceanic–neritic gradients using monthly series the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey collected in North East Atlantic between 1958 2006. Time analyses confirmed previously described geographic patterns. Equatorward towards neritic environments, climatological average S increases variance explained by cycle decreases. bi-modal character seasonality equatorward timing takes place progressive earlier environments. In long-term, decreased significantly (p < 0.001) 2006 Bay Biscay Iberian shelf a rate ca. 0.04 year−1, increased same 1991 northernmost oceanic location. averages correlate positively those index productivity (ratio minimum maximum values surface chlorophyll) sea temperature, negatively proxy for (monthly frequency occurrence daily averaged wind speed exceeding 10 m s−1). cycles (surface chlorophyll proxy) exhibit similar features terms shape, variance, but both variables is non-significant. From year-to-year, annual gradient, gradient. anomalies (i.e. factoring out variation) show unimodal stability, peaking intermediate these variables. results evidence role on control scales, giving support to richness–productivity hypothesis. Although (SST) indeed good predictor it unable predict increase form thus lessening generality richness–energy Meteo-hydrographic disturbances SST proxies), presumably through its mixed layer depth dynamics turbulence hence maximise local diversity when occurring or intensity, providing disturbance hypothesis diversity.