Zooplankton community structure; a comparison of fjords, open water and ice stations in the Svalbard area

Abstract

The zooplankton community structure was studied in the Svalbard area at three shelf stations: Billefjorden, Kongsfjorden and Hinlopen (Spitsbergen shelf area), and at two open water stations: Ice West and Ice East (north of Spitsbergen, in the Arctic Ocean). Two different plankton nets - WP−2 and WP−3 - were used to collect a size range of zooplankton. The Bray−Curtis similarity analysis showed differences between sampling stations based on total zooplankton abundance, species composition, and comparison of Calanus spp. development. Total abundance was the highest in Kongsfjorden and Hin− lopen. The small omnivorous copepod Oithona similis Claus, 1863 was the dominating spe− cies at all localities and the Atlantic copepod Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus, 1765) was found at all stations. Calanus spp. development was delayed at the ice stations when com− pared to the shelf stations. Results are discussed in relation to differences in environmental factors among stations. Key wor ds: Arctic, Svalbard, zooplankton, Calanus, fjords.