Estuarine relationships between zooplankton community structure and trophic gradients

Abstract

Zooplankton and water quality parameters were investigated at eight mesohaline stations in the lower Chesapeake Bay and Elizabeth River from January through December 1994 to identify the changes of zooplankton community structure with increased eutrophication. The total micro-and mesozooplankton biomass decreased with the increase of eutrophication. However, the relative proportion of microzooplankton increased with increased eutrophication. Within highly eutrophied waters, the small oligotrichs (<30 m) and rotifers dominated the total zooplankton biomass (as carbon). However, tintinnids, copepod nauplii and mesozooplankton significantly decreased with the increase of eutrophication. These patterns were consistent throughout the seasons and had significant relationships statistically. These results suggest zooplankton community structures characterize an increasing eutrophication of an ecosystem.