Spatial and temporal distribution of zooplankton related to the environmental conditions in the coral reef lagoon of New Caledonia, Southwest Pacific

L. Carassou*, R. Le Borgne, E. Rolland, D. Ponton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The distribution of zooplanktonic prey of fish larvae was examined in three bays and two lagoonal stations in the Southwest lagoon of New Caledonia. Water column conditions were characterized by increasing chlorophyll a and particulate organic matter (POM) concentrations from the lagoon to the estuarine bay. The mean zooplankton settled volume and total density were significantly higher in the estuarine bay, reaching 35.1mLm-3 and 3.5×105 individualsm-3, respectively. The total zooplankton density also progressively increased along the sampling period. The composition of assemblages differed between the lagoon and the bays, and was similar in the three bays. Wind speed, surface temperature, chlorophyll a and POM explained these variations, as revealed by a co-inertia analysis (COIA). The prey preferred by fish larvae, i.e. small crustaceans and small copepods, were more abundant in bays. Sheltered bays, most influenced by terrigenous inputs, are likely to provide the best feeding conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)367-374
Number of pages8
JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin
Volume61
Issue number7-12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bays
  • Coral reef
  • Environmental conditions
  • Lagoon
  • Meso- and micro-zooplankton
  • Prey of fish larvae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Pollution

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