Seasonal Composition of Mesozooplankton in the Pagan River, a Nutrient Enriched Virginia Estuary ...

• Main Author: Davis, Lillian Norman
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: Old Dominion University 1994
• Subjects: James River; Copepods; Harpacticus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25777/km0d-de45; https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/166/

A two year study of the mesozooplankton composition and seasonal distribution was conducted in the Pagan River, a nutrient rich tidal estuary and tributary to the lower James River. The mesozooplankton was dominated by calanoid copepods (80%), with the total zooplankton abundance peaks occurring during spring and fall. The total mean abundance, 3008/m', was somewhat lower than those found by other authors, however the mean abundance at one station approximated those means. Seventy-eight percent of the calanoid copepods were Acartia spp. that were primarily responsible for the fall increase in mesozooplankton abundance. The spring increase was primarily due to increases in Eurytemora affinis which overall was 17% of total abundance. The remaining total abundance (20%), other than calanoid copepods, included 8% Uca zoea, 6% barnacle nauplii and 1% Harpacticus gracilis. Fish larvae and decapod crab zoea were abundant in summer months. The Pagan River is a shallow tidal estuary, with waters ranging from ...