Caribbean Zooplankton. Part I. Siphonophora, Heteropoda, Copepoda, Euphausiacea, Chaetognatha and Salpidae. Part II. Thecosomata.

• Main Authors: Michel, H B, Foyo, Maria, Haagensen, D A
• Other Authors: ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL OF MARINE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE MIAMI FL
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1976
• Subjects: Biological Oceanography; Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; *ZOOPLANKTON; *CARIBBEAN SEA; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; TEMPERATURE; OCEAN CURRENTS; OCEAN SURFACE; STATISTICAL DATA; DEPTH; SAMPLING; MARINE BIOLOGY; TROPICAL REGIONS; FLORIDA STRAIT; CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY; MEXICO GULF; MOLLUSCA; SALINITY; SEA WATER; INDICATORS; HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING; BATHYTHERMOGRAPH DATA; GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION; UPWELLING; Water masses; Yucatan Channel; Pteropods; Siphonophora; Copepoda; Euphausids; Chaelognatha; Salpidae; Heteropoda; Thecosomata; WUNR083060; North Atlantic Deep Water; North Atlantic; Copepods
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA036019; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA036019

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.