Caribbean Zooplankton. Part I. Siphonophora, Heteropoda, Copepoda, Euphausiacea, Chaetognatha and Salpidae. Part II. Thecosomata.
Plankton and hydrographic data collected during 8 cruises in the oceanic Caribbean, adjacent waters, Florida Straits, and Gulf of Mexico were analyzed for species occurrence, relative abundance, and horizontal and vertical distribution in relation to water masses. Plankton was sampled in horizontal...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Other Authors: | |
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
1976
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA036019 http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA036019 |
Summary: | Plankton and hydrographic data collected during 8 cruises in the oceanic Caribbean, adjacent waters, Florida Straits, and Gulf of Mexico were analyzed for species occurrence, relative abundance, and horizontal and vertical distribution in relation to water masses. Plankton was sampled in horizontal tows at several levels between surface and bottom. Because over 400 pelagic copepod species occur in the area, 20 species common in major portions of the water column were individually counted and the remainder enumerated as totals of calanoids, harpacticoids and cyclopoids; cyclopoids almost equal calanoids numerically. Greatest numbers occurred in Tropical Surface Water and Subtropical Underwater, but many species are essentially restricted to Subantarctic Intermediate and North Atlantic Deep Water. Animals were most abundant in the central Caribbean and the Central American bight. Hydrographic and biological data showed upwelling off Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Reliable indicators of upwelling, coastal and oceanic waters, and possibly even movement of North Atlantic Central Water into the Caribbean were found among copepods, thecosomes and chaetognaths. Errata sheet inserted. |
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