• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.351-360
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• 2004

To investigate latitudinal variations in the zooplankton community along the meridian line ($5^{\circ}N-12^{\circ}N$, $131.5^{\circ}W$), we measured temperature, salinity, nitrate, chlorophyll-a and zooplankton at depths above 200 m from July $10^{th}$ to $25^{th}$, 2003. For comparative analysis, data of the physico-chemical properties and chl-a were matched to the two sampling depths (surface mixed layer and thermocline depth-200 m) of zooplankton. Latitudinal differences in the mesozooplankton distribution were mainly influenced by divergence formed at a boundary line formed by currents of opposing directions, consisting of North Equatorial Current (NEC) and North Equatorial Counter Current (NECC). High concentrations of chl-a south of $9^{\circ}N$, caused by equatorial upwelling related nutrients, is thought to be affected by the role of this divergence barrier, supported by relatively low concentrations in waters north of $9^{\circ}N$. The latitudinal differences of the chl-a were significantly associated with the major groups of zooplankton, namely calanoid and cyclopoid copepods, appendicularians, ostracods, chaetognaths, invertebrate larvae, and others. And temperature significantly affected the latitudinal variation of radiolarians, siphonophores, salps and immature copepods. The latitudinal differences in the two factors, temperature and chl-a, which explained 71.0% of the total zooplankton variation, were characterized by the equatorial upwelling as well as the divergence at $9^{\circ}N$. The physical characteristics also affected the community structure and abundance of zooplankton as well as average ratios of cyclopoid versus calanoid copepods. The abundance of dominant copepods, which were consistent with chl-a, were often associated with the carnivorous zooplankton chaetognaths, implying the relative importance of bottom-up regulation from physical properties to predatory zooplankton during the study period. These results suggested that latitudinal distribution of zooplankton is primarily controlled by current-related divergences, while biological processes are of secondary importance in the northeastern Equatorial Pacific during the study period in question.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.199-208
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• 2014

Copepods are a major food source for marine fish larvae in nature. Many studies on copepods culture have been conducted to develop a new live food for the seedling production of marine fish larvae. But fish farmers still depend on rotifer and Artemia nauplii. This study was carried out to find suitable copepods as live food for the larvae in hatchery. Eight species of copepods (1 calanoid, 2 cyclpoid, 5 harpacticoid) that were fed Isochrysis galbana were examined in terms of the size of nauplii, fecundity, amino acids, and fatty acids contents. These species were divided into small (nauplii length 46-86 ${\mu}m$) and large (nauplii length 120-188 ${\mu}m$) size group. Nitokra spinipes in the small group and Tigriopus japonicus in the large group showed the highest fecundity with 151.1 and 139.6 nauplii production per gravid female, respectively. With regard to nutrients, essential amino acids were the highest with 21.2% in cyclopoid Paracyclopina nana in the small group and n-3 HUFA were the highest in calanoid Pseudodiaptomus inopinus (8.5 ${\mu}g/mg$) in the large group and P. nana (8.8 ${\mu}g/mg$). In terms of the size, fecundity, and nutritional value of copepods examined in this study, N. spinipes and P. nana seem to be suitable copepod species to develop as a new live food for small mouth fish larvae.