Population demographics and growth rate of Salpa thompsoni on the Kerguelen Plateau

Type Article
Date 2021-02
Language English
Author(s) Henschke Natasha1, Blain Stéphane2, Cherel Yves3, Cotte Cedric4, Espinasse Boris1, 5, Hunt Brian P.V.1, 5, 6, Pakhomov Evgeny A.5, 6
Affiliation(s) 1 : Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2 : Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie MICrobienne, F-66650 Banyuls sur Mer, France
3 : Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
4 : LOCEAN, Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ Paris 06) CNRS-IRD-MNHN, Paris, France
5 : Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
6 : Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot bay, BC, Canada
Source Journal Of Marine Systems (0924-7963) (Elsevier BV), 2021-02 , Vol. 214 , P. 103489 (10p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2020.103489
WOS© Times Cited 10
Abstract

This study aimed to obtain the first estimates of S. thompsoni population dynamics and growth rates over the Kerguelen Plateau (Southern Indian Ocean). Micronekton, including salps, were repeatedly sampled during late summer to early autumn (26th February – 15th March 2018) at contrasting hydrological stations on the Kerguelen Plateau in the southern proximity of Kerguelen Islands. At two stations, S. thompsoni made up almost half of the micronekton biomass. Environmental conditions were important in determining the density and development of S. thompsoni populations. Growth rates (0.5–7.0% d−1) were higher than previously reported from the Antarctic Peninsula (0.3–4.6% d−1) but lower than near the Antarctic Polar Front (APF; 3.7–20.7% d−1). Despite warm surface waters (4–5 °C), low chlorophyll a concentrations restricted the salp populations from growing as fast as populations near the APF. Because the Kerguelen Plateau region deflects a branch of warm water southward towards Antarctica, more studies of S. thompsoni population dynamics across multiple seasons are needed to fully understand their importance over the Kerguelen Plateau and their invasion potential into higher latitudes.

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