Horizontal transport of the calanoid copepod Neocalanus in the North Pacific: The influences of the current system and the life history

Abstract

The horizontal transport of calanoid copepod Neocalanus flemingeri, N. plumchrus and N. cristatus in the subarctic North Pacific has been investigated by particle tracking experiments using an ocean circulation model. In our physical numerical model, the current and frontal systems in the subarctic Pacific are reproduced realistically, and fine-resolved (not smoothed) and vertically sheared western boundary currents in the model enable us to assess the differences in horizontal transports among Neocalanus species. In the experiments, seasonal vertical migration and life cycle of Neocalanus species is included, and this attempt is a novel approach in examining the transports of the zooplanktons. The maximal depths of the vertical migrations and the lengths of the surface and mesopelagic dwelling duration are the essential factors in characterizing the trajectory of the horizontal transport. Both small and large forms of N. flemingeri (hereafter NF-SF and NF-LF) whose mesopelagic-inhabited depths are the shallowest among the three Neocalanus species are transported to more distant regions from initial positions compared with the others. The longest transport distance is over 5000 km for NF-SF. On the other hand, the transport distance of the deepest inhabitant N. cristatus (hereafter NC) is the shortest. The differences in the transport distance are due to the current speed of the western boundary currents at the inhabited depth at which they spend most of their lifetime (ca. 3/4 of their lifetime). More than 82% of NF-LF that originated from the Okhotsk Sea completes its life cycle in the Okhotsk Sea, and all the animals out to the Pacific are transported to the south of the subarctic front where their survivals are unexpected due to high temperatures. This is consistent with the observed limited distribution of NF-LF in the Okhotsk Sea and its surrounding waters. Geographical genetic variations of Neocalanus species are reported as very low. This implies frequent genetic exchange all over the Pacific and its adjacent seas. Being consistent with the above, the present study suggests that the trans-Pacific transport of Neocalanus species can be accomplished within a few generations.