Benthic resting eggs of calanoid copepods in Norwegian enclosures used in mariculture: abundance, species composition and hatching

Abstract

Abundance, species composition and viability of benthic resting eggs of calanoid copepods were investigated in the sediments of seven Norwegian enclosed pond systems used in mariculture as well as in the sediments of the nearby open sea. The ponds represented different types of morphometry and zooplankton communities and were located from approximately 60 to 70 °N. Differences in environmental conditions in deep water also typical with anoxia and the presence of hydrogen sulphide at most of the localities. The lowest and highest egg densities in the enclosures were 7.5 ± 6.4 × 104 and 5.5 ± 2.5 × 106 m-2, respectively, higher than in the sediments of the nearby open sea. Highest densities were found at larger or median depths. Altogether, egg densities higher than 103 m-2 were found of only four calanoid species; Eurytemora affinis, Acartia teclae, Acartia clausi, Temora longicornis. Hatching success was variable (0–92%), and no significant correlation to the presence of anoxia and hydrogen sulphide was found. This high hatching success was achieved with eggs exposed to hydrogen sulphide for several months. The recruitment potential to the plankton of nauplii was estimated from 4.8 to 1682 nauplii l-1 for the different localities. The results showed that resting egg production is a common life history characteristic of some neritic calanoid species in Norwegian waters. In addition to copepod eggs, low densities (< 103 m-2) of eggs from rotifers and ‘cladocerans’ were found in most of the localities.