Zooplankton of the York River

Abstract

Abstract Zooplankton are a diverse group of heterotrophic organisms that consume phytoplankton, regenerate nutrients via their metabolism, and transfer energy to higher trophic levels. Over the past 40 years, few studies have specifically targeted zooplankton communities of the York River estuary and tributaries. However, several studies targeting specific taxa, and time series of multiple taxa, provide an emerging view of York River zooplankton community composition and how zooplankton communities change seasonally, and over longer time scales. Microzooplankton communities are dominated by ciliated protozoa, and rotifers are important in fresher water regions. In the lower Bay microzooplankton abundance peaks in spring, and in mid-summer to early fall. The mesozooplankton community is dominated by calanoid copepods Acartia tonsa, Acartia hudsonica, and Eurytemora affinis. Mysids undergo diel vertical migrations and are important food for many fish species in the Bay. Some taxa such as chaetognaths are no...