Seasonal variability in the population dynamics of the main mesozooplankton species in the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic Sea): Production and mortality rates

SummaryThis manuscript is a continuation of the results presented in the earlier work by Dzierzbicka-Głowacka et al. (2013). Major purpose of this study is to characterize population dynamics of three major Baltic calanoid copepod species (Acartia spp., Temora longicornis and Pseudocalanus sp.) in the Gulf of Gdańsk during the years 2006–2007. This paper focuses mostly on biomass estimation, production and mortality rates. All three species had the highest observed biomass in summer 2007 and it was 12.62, 9.16 and 0.80 mg C m−3 for Acartia spp., T. longicornis and Pseudocalanus sp., respectively, while highest daily production rates for those species were 28.22, 18.47, 1.34 mg C m−2, all recorded in summer 2007. Mortality rates were calculated for all copepodite stages of selected species, and in most cases highest values were observed during summer seasons.