Investigations of Inner Continental Shelf Waters off Lower Chesapeake Bay. Part VI. The Copepods

Abstract

Thirty different species of copepods were found in inner continental shelf waters off Virginia from December 1959 through November 1960. The range of surface water temperature during this period was 25°C (1.6 to 26.6°C). Most of the copepods were colder water forms whose relative abundance throughout the year was similar to that observed by other investigators for the Atlantic coast north of Cape Hatteras. Species of tropical origin were relatively scarce, probably limited by the low winter-spring temperatures. Numerous other crustacean plankters were identified, some to species; decapod larvae were most numerous from April through June. The mean annual displacement volume of total zooplankon, excluding the data for August and September when coelenterates, ctenophores, and tunicates were particularly abundant, was 9.5 ml per 20-minute half-meter-net haul.