Taxonomic composition and distribution of Euphausiacea and Decapoda (Crustacea) in the neuston of the Bay of Fundy, Canada

• Published in: Journal of Plankton Research
• Main Authors: Locke, A., Corey, S.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 1988
• Subjects: Articles; Canada; Meganyctiphanes norvegica; Thysanoessa inermis
• Online Access: http://plankt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/10/2/185; https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/10.2.185

The taxonomic composition and geographic distribution of Euphausiacea and Decapoda occurring in the neu.ston were examined in spring, summer and autumn surveys of a 2.4×104 km2 area of the Bay of Fundy. Adult Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Thysanoessa inermis (Euphausiacea) were present in every survey and were most abundant in autumn. Larval euphausiids were most abundant in summer but were also present in spring and autumn. Adults of three natantian decapod species were rarely collected; however, larval Natantia were common in summer and autumn. Larvae representing seven genera of reptantian decapods were collected in summer and autumn; the most abundant was Cancer sp ., which was numerically dominant in summer samples. Distributional patterns divide the taxa into inner and outer bay components at a line drawn between Digby, Nova Scotia and St John, New Brunswick, corresponding to the boundary of the major counterclockwise gyre in the Bay of Fundy.