Production of tropical copepods in Kingston Harbour, Jamaica : the importance of small species

• Published in: Marine biology Vol. 130; no. 4; pp. 593 - 604
• Main Authors: HOPCROFT, R. R, ROFF, J. C, LOMBARD, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-03-1998; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Copepoda; Corycaeus; Ecosystems; Eutrophication; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Marine biology; Oithona; Parvocalanus; Sea water ecosystems; Synecology; Temora; Central America; Jamaica; Caribbean Sea; America; West Indies; Kingston Jamaica; ASW, Caribbean Sea, Greater Antilles, Jamaica, Kingston Harbour; ASW, Caribbean Sea, Greater Antilles, Jamaica, Kingston, Kingston Harbour; Neritic environment; Biomass; Eutrophication; Crustacea; Marine environment; Spatial distribution; Food web; Secondary productivity; Animal community; Seasonal variation; Arthropoda; Copepoda; Invertebrata; Zooplankton; Ecological abundance
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/s002270050281

The copepod community observed during an 18-month period at the mouth of eutrophic Kingston Harbour, Jamaica, was dominated by small species of Parvocalanus, Temora, Oithona, and Corycaeus. Mean Copepod biomass was 22.1 mg AFDW m-3 (331 mgm-2). Annual production was 1679 kJ m-2, partitioned as 174 kJ m-2 naupliar, 936 kJ m-2 copepodite, 475 kJ m-2 egg and 93 kJ m-2 exuvial production.