Short-term changes in abundance and population structure of dominant pelagic amphipod species in the Oyashio region during the spring phytoplankton bloom

•The dynamics of four dominant amphipods in the Oyashio region were studied during the spring.•The utilization of the spring bloom was varied by species, specific for amphipod species.•Three dominant amphipods achieved growth, maturation and reproduction during the spring.•Species-specific utilization of the spring bloom may be related to life-cycle phenology.•Less effect of water mass change on amphipods may be caused by their strong DVM.

Short-term changes in the population structure of dominant amphipods in the Oyashio region during the spring bloom were studied and discussed from the perspective of the effect of water mass change and the utilization of a phytoplankton bloom. Throughout the sampling period, amphipods belonging to 9 genera and 13 species were found. Among them, three amphipods (Cyphocaris challengeri, Primno abyssalis and Themisto pacifica) accounted for 89% of the total amphipod abundance and 92% of the biomass. For C. challengeri, the compositions of egg- and juvenile-carrying specimens within mature females were increased through April; juveniles exhibited a drastic increase in late April. These facts suggest that C. challengeri primarily achieved reproduction during the spring phytoplankton bloom. For P. abyssalis, growth of the mean body length was observed for each juvenile cohort. Thus, P. abyssalis achieved juvenile growth during the spring phytoplankton bloom. For T. pacifica, the compositions of egg- and juvenile-carrying females increased through April. These facts suggest that T. pacifica achieved maturation during the spring phytoplankton bloom. The effect of the water mass exchange on the amphipod population was more moderate than that observed on the other macrozooplankton taxa. This finding may be a result of a strong diel vertical migration behavior, which functions to maintain the population position. The species-specific differences in the amphipods in the utilization of spring phytoplankton may be related to the species-specific life cycle timing (phenology) in this region.