Quantitative variability of the copepod assemblages in the northern Adriatic Sea from 1993 to 1997

Quantitative variability of the copepod assemblages in the northern Adriatic Sea was investigated at two stations, during 43 cruises, from January 1993 to October 1997. Samples were taken at 0.5, 10, and 20 m, as well as near the bottom, using 5-l Niskin bottles. For inter-annual variation in the density of copepod assemblages data were presented as total number of nauplii and copepodites with adult copepods of the following groups: Calanoida, Cyclopoida-oithonids, Cyclopoida-oncaeids and Harpacticoida. Moreover, hydrographic conditions, both fractions of phytoplankton, non-loricate ciliates and tintinnids were taken into consideration. Nauplii are the most numerous fraction at both stations with an average over 74% in the total number of all copepod groups. Their numbers were significantly higher at the western eutrophic station, while at the eastern oligotrophic station, an absolute maximum of 693 ind. l−1 was noted. The maximum values of calanoids and oithonids occur generally during summer and these copepods are always more numerous at the western station: 33-50% and 50-63%, respectively. The most abundant taxa identified were the calanoid Paracalanus parvus and the cyclopoid Oithona nana. Oncaeid species Oncaea waldemari and Monothula subtilis dominated during late autumn and winter. An atypical increase in the abundance of oncaeids during the summer of 1997 could be related to an invasion and mass occurrence of the calycophoran siphonophore Muggiaea atlantica. It can be concluded that these dominant copepods are responsible for the stabilization of very complex processes. Atypical appearances of major copepod groups and disturbances in the copepod population structure itself can significantly influence changes in the ecosystem of this very sensitive region.