Aggregate-colonizing copepods in a glacial fjord: Population dynamics, vertical distribution and allometric scaling of growth and mortality rates of Microsetella norvegica and Oncaea spp.

Most global analysis on the role of copepods in food web efficiency or carbon sequestration ignore harpacticoid poecilostomatoid that are under-estimated traditional zooplankton surveys and under-studied with respect to their ecology behavior. Nevertheless, when small-mesh-size nets used these groups appear dominate abundance sometimes even biomass from Arctic tropical seas. We studied seasonal succession abundance, body size, vertical distribution, reproduction, growth mortality two aggregate-colonizing copepods, Microsetella norvegica Oncaea spp. a glacial fjord, investigate allometric scaling vital rates correlation between distribution environmental variables. Although both species known feed marine snow, they differed population dynamics, tolerance. Also, contrast most sac-spawning M. had high specific eggs early naupliar stages, egg size calanoid cyclopoid copepods. Our results suggest non-calanoid do not necessarily share same habitat respond similarly environment, our understanding is incomplete if we consider copepod groups. form by virtue an important part oceanic webs, should be included understand future ocean ecosystems.