- Dona Paula, Goa, India.
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| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-2022-06-0038 |
| Title of Abstract | Ocean temperature and copepod feeding strategies influence zooplankton assemblages along 110°E, Indian Ocean |
| Authors | claire*, lynnath, Anthony |
| Organisation | davies |
| Address | Castray Esplanade Hobart, TAS, Australia Pincode: 7173 Mobile: 488518030 E-mail: claire.davies@csiro.au |
| Country | Australia |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Zooplankton sampling with a Heron net and a Continuous Plankton Recorder along the 110oE transect as part of the second International Indian Ocean Expedition allowed investigation of the relationship of copepod assemblages to environmental variables. The environmental variables and the copepod assemblages were found to cluster into four groupings with the most distinct being in the region of the Subtropical Front. As the ocean temperature increased from south to north along the transect, zooplankton abundance and diversity also increased, the dominant copepod species changed accordingly and were predominantly those that can feed on motile prey. Although copepods were the most abundant taxa, the proportion of microzooplankton, particularly, mixotrophic Rhizaria, was consistently high indicating a highly mixotrophic system supporting production in an oligotrophic ocean. |