Are tidal fronts good recruitment areas for herbivorous copepods?

Abstract

Horizontal distributions of phytoplankton biomass and numerical abundance of copepod nauplii were investigated across a tidal front in the northern part of Bungo Channel, the Inland Sea of Japan, in May and June 1988. The frontal area was characterized by abrupt changes in subsurface (3 m deep) temperature and salinity, and by an increased standing stock of phytoplankton. The density of copepod nauplii was lower in the frontal area than in adjacent stratified and mixed areas. The population egg production rate of a predominant copepod species (Paracakmus sp.) was higher due to elevated fecundity on an individual basis in response to increased chlorophyll concentrations, in the frontal zone. However, the frontal population was subjected to higher mortality, probably due to predation by carnivores that were mainly accumulated passively within the area. From these facts, we conclude that tidal fronts are not always good areas for recruitment of herbivorous copepods, although fronts give rise to high standing stocks of phytoplankton.