Distributional patterns of chaetognaths in the Bay of Fundy

Abstract

Nine species of chaetognaths were found in the Bay of Fundy: Sagitta elegans, S. tasmanica, Eukrohnia hamata, S. maxima, S. lyra, S. enflata, S. hexaptera, S. serratodentata, and Pterosagitta draco. Sagitta elegans was the dominant and only native species and maintained a centre of very high abundance in the study area. It is suggested that surface circulation carries young out of the Bay of Fundy and that the centre of abundance is maintained principally by immigration from outside the Bay and by interaction of adult specimens with the hydrographic conditions. Sagitta tasmanica was the second most abundant species and an immigrant carried into the Bay of Fundy by surface circulation. The distribution and abundance of E. hamata indicated a regular but variable inflow of slope water. The occurrence of S. maxima and S. lyra, and S. enflata, S. hexaptera, S. serratodentata, and P. draco indicated periodic inflow of oceanic boreal and (or) Gulf Stream waters.