The ecology of the inshore marine zooplankton of the Chukchi Sea near Point Barrow, Alaska

Abstract

The temporal variability in abundance, composition, and production of an arctic-marine inshore zooplankton community was investigated near Point Barrow, Alaska from May through August, 1972. Significant temporal differences (P^ < 0.05) in population abundance over the summer were noted for 29 of 30 species. Changes in community composition resulted from the summer intrusion of Bering Sea water into the study area; southern copepods were observed during July and August. This intrusion imposes a temperature regime favorable for the rapid development and high production of meroplankton, particularly barnacle larvae. The meroplankters were largely responsible for creating a more diverse and productive community than that occurring in the epipelagic zone of the central arctic. Extensive recruitment of meroplankton was correlated with periods of high phytoplankton standing stock. Community dry weight ranged from 4 to 41 mg/m , with the maximum occurring under the ice in late June one week after the phytoplankton bloom.