Micronekton Abundance Research Articles

Comparative analysis of day and night micronekton abundance estimates in west Pacific between acoustic and trawl surveys

Micronekton organisms are a central component of the trophic organization in the pelagic ecosystem, being prey to top predators and participating in the export of carbon from the surface to the deep layers. Despite their importance, the abundance estimates and species distribution of micronekton remain largely uncertain. This study aimed to compare and assess two sampling methods classically used for the estimation of micronekton abundance in mesopelagic acoustic scattering layers: scientific echosounder and trawl sampling. Measurements of 38 and 70 kHz hull-mounted echosounders were examined with biological trawl samples from 8 surveys in the South-West tropical Pacific. A model of acoustic observation was built from the trawl sampling species composition and forward scattering models. Predicted and observed acoustic responses are compared to assess the variability and the difference between the acoustic and trawl sampling methods in various scattering layers, for day and night periods. The difference between methods decreased with depth and with increasing abundance of fish with swimbladders caught in trawls. Notably, this difference was found to be minimal in the nocturnal deep scattering layer (mesopelagic zone, depth>200 m). This study emphasizes potential lower estimates of organisms’ abundance by trawling and a bias towards mesopelagic fish. Understanding the differences between methods and their variability within different scattering layers is essential for studying micronekton and improving the precision of biomass estimates.

The Impact of a Southern Ocean Cyclonic Eddy on Mesopelagic Micronekton

AbstractMesoscale eddies shape the foraging ecology of predators such as marine mammals and seabirds. A growing number of animal tracking studies show that predators alter their swimming, diving, and foraging behavior within mesoscale eddies. However, little is known about how Southern Ocean eddies influence the distribution of mesopelagic micronekton (fish, squid, and crustaceans), which are major prey items of megafauna. Studies in other oceanic regions have found that eddies can influence the abundance and community composition of micronekton. Here, we analyze acoustic observations from a 14‐day survey of a cyclonic mesoscale eddy, its surrounding waters, and the Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ) waters where the eddy formed. We report and interpret spatial patterns of acoustic backscatter at 18 and 75 kHz, proxies indicating combined changes in species, size, and abundance of micronekton. We find that the vertical distribution of acoustic backscatter matched the underwater light conditions characteristic of the eddy core, periphery, and surrounding waters, at scales smaller than 10 km. The median water‐column integrated acoustic backscatter values in the eddy core were only half of those measured in the Sub‐Antarctic Zone waters surrounding the eddy, but similar to those measured in the PFZ, where the eddy originated 27 days prior. These results suggest that, as for physical and chemical tracers, the eddy maintained its biological characteristics from its source waters creating a unique habitat compared to its surroundings.

Exploring the future of the Coral Sea micronekton

Ecosystem models forced by future climate simulations outputs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulate a substantial decline of tropical marine animal biomass over the course of the 21st century. Regional projections are however far more uncertain because of well-known biases common to most CMIP5 historical simulations that propagate within the food web. Moreover, the model outputs for high trophic levels marine fauna suffer from lack of validation based on in situ data. In this study, we implement a “bias-mitigation” strategy to reduce the physical oceanography and biogeochemical biases simulated by three CMIP5 models under the future RCP8.5 scenario. We force two very different micronekton models with these “bias-mitigated” outputs to infer the future micronekton changes in the Coral Sea: a 3-D deterministic population dynamics model; and a 3-D statistical model based on in situ hydro-acoustic data. These two models forecast a consistent pattern of micronekton abundance changes in the epipelagic layer (0–150 m) by 2100 for three different climate forcing used, with a marked decrease south of 22°S and a smaller increase further north mostly related to temperature and chlorophyll changes. In contrast, changes in the vertical patterns of micronekton predicted by the two models considerably differ in the upper mesopelagic layers (150–450 m) and lower mesopelagic layer (450–1000 m), highlighting the structural sensitivity in model type. Since micronekton are prey of all larger marine predators, those discrepancies in vertical structures of micronekton may hamper our potential to predict how top predators may evolve in the future.

Mesozooplankton and Micronekton Active Carbon Transport in Contrasting Eddies

Mesozooplankton (June 2015 and September 2017) and micronekton (September 2017) were sampled along the eastern coast of Australia. Depth stratified mesozooplankton and micronekton were collected using a Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS) and an International Young Gadoid Pelagic Trawl (IYGPT) equipped with an opening/closing codend. Sampling was undertaken at the center and edge of a frontal cold-core eddy (F-CCE center and edge) in 2015, and at the center of a cold-core eddy (B-CCE) and two warm-core eddies (R-WCE and WCE) in 2017. We assess the diel vertical structure, biomass and downward active carbon transport by mesozooplankton and micronekton in eddies. Total water column mesozooplankton and micronekton biomass did not vary substantially across water masses, while the extent and depth of diel vertical migration did. Using in-situ measurements of temperature and measurements of mesozooplankton and micronekton abundance and biomass, we estimated the contribution of respiration, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) excretion, gut flux and mortality to total downward active carbon transport in each water mass. Overall, active carbon transport by mesozooplankton and micronekton below the mixed layer varied substantially across water masses. We corrected estimates of micronekton migratory biomass and active carbon transport assuming 50% net efficiency. Specifically, inIn the R-WCE mesozooplankton remained within the mixed layer during the day and night; only 50% of the total micronekton population migrated below the mixed layer contributing to carbon transport, equating to 1.52.89 mg C m-2 d-1. Mesozooplankton actively transported 16.1 and 8.0 mg C m-2 d-1 at the F-CCE Center and Edge, respectively. Mesozooplankton and micronekton active carbon transport in the B-CCE were 5.4 and 0.40.74 mg C m-2 d-1, and in the WCE 88 and 6.713.4 mg C m-2 d-1. Differences in carbon export were dependent on food availability, temperature, time spent migrating and mixed layer depth. These findings suggest that under certain conditions mesoscale eddies can act as important carbon sinks.

Micronekton diel migration, community composition and trophic position within two biogeochemical provinces of the South West Indian Ocean: Insight from acoustics and stable isotopes

Spatial distribution, community composition and trophic roles of micronekton (crustaceans, fishes and squids) were investigated in the Indian South Subtropical Gyre (ISSG) province and the East African Coastal province (EAFR), by combining acoustic surveys, mid-water trawls and stable isotope analyses from scientific cruises conducted in 2009 and 2010. Mesopelagic micronekton performed diel vertical migrations in both provinces, from deep (400–740 m) to surface (0–200 m) layers at dusk and in the opposite direction at dawn, with some species migrating below 740 m. The EAFR province was more dynamic than the oligotrophic ISSG province, with enhanced eddy activity and enhanced yearly productivity. The active enrichment mechanisms in the EAFR, in terms of available primary production, led to high micronekton acoustic density (as a proxy of micronekton abundance) and large micronekton weight and abundance estimates from trawl data. Particulate organic matter in the EAFR exhibited greater enrichment in 13C and 15N compared to the ISSG and, consequently, tissues of selected micronekton organisms in the EAFR were more enriched in 15N (higher δ15N values). In both provinces, micronekton encompassed a wide range of isotopic niches, with large overlaps between species. Micronekton and swordfish in the EAFR had an overlapping range of δ15N values, contrasting with the ISSG province where swordfish were two trophic levels higher than the sampled micronekton. Our results provide some evidence that the combined action of riverine input and the dynamics of eddies might influence productivity in the EAFR, and hence the abundance of micronekton and the enrichment of tissues in 15N, compared to the oligotrophic ISSG province.

A critical time window for organismal interactions in a pelagic ecosystem.

To measure organismal coherence in a pelagic ecosystem, we used moored sensors to describe the vertical dynamics of each step in the food chain in shelf waters off the west shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Horizontally extensive, intense aggregations of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and micronekton exhibited strong diel patterns in abundance and vertical distribution, resulting in a highly variable potential for interaction amongst trophic levels. Only around dusk did zooplankton layers overlap with phytoplankton layers. Shortly after sunset, micronekton ascended from the deep, aggregating on the island's shelf. Short-lived departures in migration patterns were detected in depth, vertical distribution, density, and total abundance of micronekton when zooplankton layers were present with typical patterns resuming within one hour. Layers of zooplankton began to disappear within 20 minutes of the arrival of micronekton with no layers present after 50 minutes. The effects of zooplankton layers cascaded even further up the food chain, affecting many behaviors of dolphins observed at dusk including their depth, group size, and inter-individual spacing. As a result of these changes in behavior, during a 30-minute window just after dusk, the number of feeding events observed for each dolphin and consequently the feeding time for each individual more than doubled when zooplankton layers were present. Dusk is a critical period for interactions amongst species in this system from phytoplankton to top predators. Our observations that short time windows can drive the structure and function of a complex suite of organisms highlight the importance of explicitly adding a temporal dimension at a scale relevant to individual organisms to our descriptions of heterogeneity in ocean ecosystems.

Micronekton abundance and biomass in Hawaiian waters as influenced by seamounts, eddies, and the moon

Micronekton abundance, biomass, and community composition was determined from 58 Cobb trawl samples taken from 2005 to 2008 at several locations in the lee of the Hawaiian Islands. The results indicated a strong influence of the lunar illumination on micronekton abundance and biomass. This effect was evident in shallow night tows and probably was the result of lunar light affecting the nighttime depths of migrating species. The abundance and biomass of micronekton is remarkably consistent between years and areas in Hawaiian waters after the affects of moon phase are accounted for. Micronekton, principally migratory myctophids, were reduced over the summit of Cross Seamount but not Finch Seamount that has a summit below the daytime depth of most migrators. However, during a new moon, micronekton abundance over Cross seamount was similar to surrounding areas either because of altered migration patterns or because predators such as tunas cannot forage as effectively at night without lunar illumination. Species belonging to the Hawaiian mesopelagic boundary layer community were found to vary in presence and abundance between years at Cross Seamount suggesting that a consistent seamount associated fauna does not exist. Sparse sampling of a cyclonic mid-ocean eddy suggested very high micronekton abundance and biomass both in shallow waters at night but also at depth during the day. Although preliminary, these results suggest that eddies may aggregate the micronekton which probably feed on the enhanced secondary productivity.

Distribution and abundance of micronekton and macrozooplankton in the NW Weddell Sea: relation to a spring ice-edge bloom

Micronekton and macrozooplankton were collected during the austral spring of 1993 in the NW Weddell Sea. Sampling was done in three areas of the marginal ice zone: pack ice, ice edge, and open water, to examine the short-term effects of the spring phytoplankton bloom on the distribution and abundance of dominant fish and invertebrate species. Significant differences were observed for several common species, including Salpa thompsoni,Euphausia superba, Electrona antarctica, Gymnoscopelus braueri,and G. opisthopterus. Increased abundance seaward of the pack ice for these species is attributed to elevated phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass at the ice edge and in the open water areas. Distribution of the hyperiid amphipods, Cyllopus lucasii and Vibilia stebbingi mirrored that of S. thompsoni. No distributional trends between the areas were observed for Thysanoessa macrura, the amphipods Cyphocaris richardi and Primno macropa, the decapod shrimp Pasiphaea scotiae, the scyphomedusae Atolla wyvilli and Periphylla periphylla, and chaetognaths, indicating a trophic independence from the ice-edge bloom for these species. Lower occurrence of the mesopelagic fish Bathylagus antarcticus and Cyclothone microdon under the ice suggested that trophic repercussions of the spring bloom can also extend to deeper living species.

The abundance and distribution of euphausiids and zero-age pollock on the inner shelf of the southeast Bering Sea near the Inner Front in 1997–1999

Abstract Acoustic data and net samples were collected during late spring and early fall 1997–1999 to assess zooplankton and micronekton abundance and distribution relative to the Inner Front at three sampling grids (Port Moller, Cape Newenham and Nunivak Island) on the inner shelf of the southeast Bering Sea. Epibenthic scattering layers were observed during May–June and August–September in all three years. Acoustic data were scaled to euphausiid biomass using target strength models. Mean euphausiid biomass determined acoustically for each transect line was 0.7– 21 g m −2 , with most values below 5 g m −2 . There was no consistent relationship between the distribution and biomass of euphausiids and the location of the Inner Front. Zero age pollock were observed on the inner shelf in August–September during all years, but were confined primarily to the stratified side of the Inner Front and to the frontal regime. The acoustic data for pollock were scaled to biomass using laboratory measurements of gas bladder dimensions and target strength models. Acoustic determinations of mean transect biomass for euphausiids did not differ from literature values for the inner shelf of the southeast Bering Sea, and pollock biomass on the inner shelf did not differ from that around the Pribilof Islands. Despite recent anomalies in climate and oceanographic conditions on the inner shelf, and high mortality of shorttail shearwaters during 1997, we found no evidence of significant interannual differences in the biomass of euphausiids or zero-age pollock on the inner shelf of the southeast Bering Sea.

Has jarosite dumping at a deepwater site off eastern Tasmania, Australia, had a measurable effect on the midwater zooplankton and micronekton communities?

The biomass, abundance, species diversity and length-frequency distribution of macrozooplankton and micronekton at a deep-ocean dumpsite southeast of Tasmania, Australia, were compared with those of the surrounding water masses. The dumping of jarosite – a waste product of zinc refining that contains trace quantities of heavy metals – began in 1973. The dumpsite, which typically receives 170,000 tonnes of jarosite per annum, is in an oceanographically, and biologically, dynamic area. Depending on season and large-scale oceanographic effects, the dumpsite can be dominated by high-salinity, warm waters of subtropical origin or low-salinity, cool waters of subantarctic origin. The comparisons of the macrozooplankton and micronekton parameters between water masses, and between the two years of the study (1992, 1993), did not show any changes that could be attributed to the jarosite dumping. Micronekton abundance was significantly lower over the dumpsite in 1992; however, this appears to be due to the presence of a warm-core eddy in the region of the dumpsite in that year. Changes in the regional oceanography between years also appear to account for significantly greater micronekton biomass over the dumpsite in 1993.

Acoustic characterisation of micronekton distribution in French Polynesia

Tuna distribution may be directly linked to food availability, the density of which can be assessed by echo-sounding. A study was performed in the French Polynesian EEZ (Economic Exclusive Zone) between 1995 and 1997 with a 38 kHz echo sounder working down to 500 m depth. With the settings used, acoustic back-scattered energy may be considered as representative of micronektonic fish biomass and provided information on horizontal and vertical micronekton variabilities and the structure of the echograms. Three different zones were defined by multivariate analysis. The classical biomass decreasing gradient from the equator to higher latitudes did not appear. Instead, the maximum micronekton abundance was found between Marquesas Archipelagos and a west-northwest/east-southeast oriented line stretching between 11 and 14°S, i.e. in a weak convergence, favourable to micronekton development due to the concentration of lower trophic levels with no oxygen limitation in the deep layers. Two zones with very different hydrological features, but with comparable micronektonic abundances, surround the richest micronekton zone. To the north, waters are enriched by the equatorial upwelling, but intense organic matter remineralisation limits oxygen availability under the thermocline. To the south, waters are influenced by the great southern gyre and present oligotrophic characteristics less favourable to micronekton development. The present results suggest that prediction of tuna forage distribution should take not only trophic parameters into account, but also environmental ones. They also suggest that echo-sounding data should be used more extensively in the validation of models predicting tuna forage.

An assessment of the utility of an acoustic Doppler current profiler for biomass estimation

Acoustic Dopplerd current profilers (ADCPs) are being used increasingly to derive estimates of zooplankton and micronekton abundance. The absence of a practical means for users to perform ADCP calibration, however, makes the quantitative value of this approach questionable. In an attemptto evaluate ADCP-derived volume backscattering strength ( S v ) data, and hence to assess the utility of such measurements for biomass estimation, a regularly calibrated Simrad EK500 scientific echo-sounder (operating at 38, 120 and 200 kHz) and an RDI narrow-band ADCP (153.6 kHz) were similarly configured and run in synchrony on a transect in the Southern Ocean. Data were collected by both instruments from congruent depth (4 m) and time (2 min) bins in order to allow direct comparison of numerous discrete values without the need for further signal averaging. Echoes were recorded from the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba,in deep-ocean and on-shelf locations during day and night. ADCP-derived volume back scattering strength data from shallow, evenly distributed krill targets were well correlated with equivalent data from the EK500 ( r 2>0.98), and the offsets between instruments conformed to those predicted for their respective operating frequencies by a theoretical model of sound scattering by krill (H 0: S v 153.6 kHz= S v 120 kHz+2.3 dB, t 0.05(2),155=1.98, t=0.74, P=0.46 ). Data from deeper, more irregularly distributed targets differed significantly ( P<0.001). We conclude that under some ideal, but probably rare, circumstances data from the ADCP can be used to derive biomass estimates. The numerous uncertainties surrounding ADCP calibration and the current practical impossibility for users to monitor system performance should, however, preclude these instruments from being used as a matter of course to determine abundance estimates, a task that we believe should remain firmly within the domain of a well calibrated scientific echo sounder.

Distribution and community structure of midwater fishes in relation to the subtropical convergence off eastern Tasmania, Australia

Midwater fishes were sampled at night to a depth of 400 m in oceanic waters east of Tasmania, Australia, in May/June of 1992, 1993 and 1994. We examined whether there were differences in the distribution and density of these fishes in relation to the subtropical convergence (STC) separating East Australia Current (EAC) water from subantarctic water (SAW) to the south. A total of 23999 fishes from 107 taxa and 43 families were identified. Four new records were identified from the study area. Myctophids and stomiatoids were the main fish taxa captured. We found no evidence of increased density of the combined fish catch in any particular area. However, differences between areas in the density of individual species were noted, although no species was confined to any one area. Ceratoscopelus warmingi, Lobianchia dofleini and Vinciguerria spp. were most abundant in the EAC, whereas Lampichthys procerus was most abundant in the SAW. Only Diaphus danae was found in significantly higher numbers in the STC. Multivariate analysis revealed that community structure in the EAC was significantly different from that of the SAW but not from the STC. Further, when separated by depth, the shallow EAC group was significantly different in all group comparisons bar that with the shallow STC. Our data indicated that the thin EAC layer above 200 m could be distinguished by its fauna from the SAW. However, we could not detect a separate community in the STC. We conclude, therefore, that the STC is not an area of increased micronekton abundance, nor does it contain a distinct community, during the Australian autumn/winter.

Acoustic evidence for unusual diel behaviour of a mesopelagic fish (Vinciguerria nimbaria) exploited by tuna

For 15 years, there has been a seasonal tuna fishery in the open equatorial Atlantic Ocean. There are no good reasons for explaining this concentration of fish, except the possible abundance of micronekton. However, micronekton are only found during the night in the upper layers, whereas tuna feed during the day, according to current assumptions. An acoustic cruise carried out in November 1992 clearly showed the presence in this area of a large schooling biomass of a small mesopelagic fish, Vinciguerria nimbaria (Photichtyidae). Instead of diving to a great depth during the day as usual, they remained in the upper layers and tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis and Thunnus albacares) were found to feed on them. The atypical behaviour of Vinciguerria involved two processes: reverse phototaxis and a break in the diel vertical migrations. A review of the literature shows that this fish: (1) is a common item in tuna stomach contents; and (2) is never caught in the upper layers during the day. This apparent discrepancy has been resolved by our results: schooling behaviour during the day prevents Vinciguerria from being sampled adequately by the usual systematic net tows. The need to use acoustics for successful sampling is obvious. It is likely that this behaviour occurs in other areas and could explain the local concentration of tuna.

Zooplankton and Micronekton Abundance in Acoustic Scattering Layers on the Nova Scotian Slope

Zooplankton and micronekton sampling with a multiple net sampler, the BIONESS, in conjunction with a 120-kHz sounder showed significantly higher numbers of animals on the shelf water side of the shelf–slope water front than in the slope water on the Nova Scotian slope. The dominant copepod in the shelf water was Calanus finmarchicus and in the slope water it was Pleuromamma borealis. The dominant forms of micronekton were the myctophid Benthosema glaciale and the euphausiid Thysanoessa longicaudata. Calanus finmarchicus preferred a temperature of about 6 °C, B. glaciale a temperature &lt; 12 °C. The intense acoustic scattering in the shelf water was probably due to the myctophids and euphausiids. The acoustic scattering disappeared once the warmer slope water was entered. The biomass and numbers of each species of zooplankton and micronekton∙m−2 are given for the shelf and slope water masses, for May 1977 and April 1979; these values are also given for the shelf water in June 1978. Estimates were made of the daily consumption of zooplankton by the euphausiids and myctophids in the two water masses, and it was found that both groups of animals were major consumers of the zooplankton during the spring period. There was no evidence for a food chain dominated by tunicates, chaetognaths, or gelatinous carnivores.Key words: zooplankton, micronekton, copepod, euphausiid, myctophid, acoustic scattering layer, shelf, slope

Zooplankton and micronekton abundance in acoustic scattering layers on the Nova Scotian slope : Sameoto, D.D., 1982. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci., 39(5): 760–777

Zooplankton and micronekton abundance in acoustic scattering layers on the Nova Scotian slope : Sameoto, D.D., 1982. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci., 39(5): 760–777