The seasonal succession of zooplankton in the Southern Ocean south of Australia, part I: The seasonal ice zone

Between November 2001 and March 2002 an Australian/Japanese collaborative study completed six passes of a transect line in the Seasonal-Ice Zone (south of 62°S) along 140°E. Zooplankton samples were collected with a NORPAC net on 22–28 November, and a Continuous Plankton Recorder on 10–15 January, 11–12 February, 19–22 February, 25–26 February, and 10–11 March. Zooplankton densities were lowest on 22–28 November (ave=61 individuals (ind) m−3), when almost the entire transect was covered by sea ice. By 10–15 January sea surface temperature had increased by ∼2 °C across the transect line, and the study area was ice-free. Total zooplankton abundance had increased to maximum levels for the season (ave=1301 ind m−3; max=1979 ind m−3), dominated by a “Peak Community” comprising Oithona similis, Ctenocalanus citer, Clausocalanus laticeps, foraminiferans, Limacina spp., appendicularians, Rhincalanus gigas and large calanoid copepodites (C1–3). Total densities declined on each subsequent transect, returning to an average of 169 ind m−3 on 10–11 March. The seasonal density decline was due to the decline in densities of “Peak Community” taxa, but coincided with the rise of Euphausia superba larvae into the surface waters, increased densities of Salpa thompsoni, and an increased contribution of C4 to adult stages to the populations of Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus and Calanus simillimus. The seasonal community succession appeared to be influenced by the low sea ice extent and southward projection of the ACC in this region. The relatively warm ACC waters, together with low krill biomass, favoured high densities of small grazers during the January/February bloom conditions. The persistence of relatively warm surface waters in March and the seasonal decrease in chlorophyll a biomass provided favorable conditions for salps, which were able to penetrate south of the Southern Boundary.