The mystery of Microsetella: combination of sac- and broadcast-spawning in an Arctic fjord

Different life-history stages of the pelagic harpacticoid Microsetella norvegica were sampled in a Greenland fjord, to investigate how this slowly growing species can achieve high abundances at low temperatures. We expected low but continuous reproduction coupled with a low mortality, but observed t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Plankton Research
Main Authors: Koski, Marja, Swalethorp, Rasmus, Kjellerup, Sanne, Nielsen, Torkel Gissel
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2013
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Online Access:http://plankt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/fbt117v1
https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbt117
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Summary:Different life-history stages of the pelagic harpacticoid Microsetella norvegica were sampled in a Greenland fjord, to investigate how this slowly growing species can achieve high abundances at low temperatures. We expected low but continuous reproduction coupled with a low mortality, but observed the opposite: a short reproductive period with high estimated weight-specific egg production and egg mortality, and indication of a life-history strategy combining the advantages of egg carrying with egg production rates independent of temperature.