Seasonal changes in copepod biomass and production in Gamak Bay, Korea

To better understand the ecological functioning of coastal ecosystem in Gamak Bay on southern coast Korea, seasonal changes density, biomass, and secondary production copepod community were investigated. Environmental measurements (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a) sampling performed seasonally from January to December 2006. The mean density copepods (excluding nauplii) varied 949 5,999 ind · m−3; was at its highest March July. comprised 32 taxa, including Calanoida, Cyclopoida, Harpacticoida. predominant species Paracalanus parvus s. l., Acartia omorii, Eurytemora pacifica, Oithona similis, A. erythraea, Centropages abdominalis, Pseudodiaptomus marinus, Calanus sinicus. There significant spatial variations total which ranged 0.33 43.10 mg C m−3. Mean Bay, estimated as 2.05 ± 1.63 m−3 d−1 using Huntley Lopez growth model, over 2 times higher than value given by application Hirst Bunker model (1.09 0.85 d−1). daily rate biomass (P/B) ratio between 0.08 0.86 (Huntley model), 0.18 (Hirst model). Our results emphasize significance models estimate provides first report Bay.