Temperature and phytoplankton size class biomass drives the zooplankton food web dynamics in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean

Abstract

The abundance and vertical distribution of zooplankton community structure in the mesopelagic zone are important to better understand their role in the food web dynamics in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. During the austral summer of 2015, in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean, the vertical profiles of zooplankton community structures between 0 and 1000 m were investigated using a Hydro-Bios, Multi Plankton Sampler (200-µm mesh, 0.25 m2 mouth area). A strong contrast in terms of population structure and biovolume was observed between the Subtropical Front and the Polar Front 2. High zooplankton abundance was recorded on each transect in the Polar Front. Zooplankton abundance was numerically dominated by calanoids and cyclopoids, constituting approximately 86% of the total zooplankton count. Abundance of copepods were the highest within the mixed layer depth. Under warm, stratified conditions, surface waters were dominated by picophytoplankton. These conditions result in the zooplankton being dominated by small crustaceans. This long, inefficient food web is of poor nutritional quality, supporting a smaller biomass of higher trophic levels. In contrast, under cold and well mixed conditions, surface waters were dominated by microphytoplankton. These conditions result in the zooplankton being dominated by crustaceans, such as large copepods. This short, nutritionally rich and efficient food web supports higher trophic levels.