Epizooplankton summer production in the Irminger Sea

Surface distribution (0–120 m) of zooplankton biomass and specific AARS activity, as proxy of structural growth, were studied during the summer of 2002 in the Irminger Sea. Mesozooplankton AARS activities were affected by hydrography and changes in food concentration. A front located in the central Irminger Basin was associated with enhanced production rates of both microzooplankton and mesozooplankton in the 200–450-μm size range. However, large mesozooplankton (450–1000 μm) biomass distribution was spatially uncoupled with both chlorophyll and microzooplankton biomass.