Life cycles of four species of Pseudocalanus in Nova Scotia

Abstract

The primarily arctic Pseudocalanus acuspes, relict in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, produces a first generation (G1) in late winter; most G1 individuals mature in late spring. The G1 then produces a G2, most of which "rest" in copepodite stages III and IV until early winter. These stages store large amounts of lipid in early summer, which slowly diminish subsequently. A small number of G2 individuals continue to develop at temperature-dependent rates, maturing in early autumn and producing G3 adults in November. Copepodites developing in winter and spring store less lipid. The primarily arctic Pseudocalanus minutus, rare in Bedford Basin and on the Scotia Shelf, is strictly annual, developing to a lipid-filled copepodite stage V after spawning in late winter. The arctic–temperate Pseudocalanus newmani is abundant on the Scotian Shelf, but may not be self-sustaining when advected into Bedford Basin. It stores little lipid and appears to have at least three mature generations at temperature-dependent intervals over Browns Bank between May and November. It may rest in winter, or its life-cycle synchrony by spring could result from food-limited development during winter. The temperate Pseudocalanus moultoni appears to have a life cycle similar to that of P. newmani, but was less common during summer on Browns Bank. These life cycles are appropriately adapted to the geographical ranges of the species, and show some parallels with species of Calanus.