Publication Abstract

Biodiversity of North Atlantic andNorth Sea calanoid copepods

G. Beagrand, P.C. Reid, F. Ibanez and B. Planque

Spatialpatterns in pelagic biodiversity are the result of factors acting from a global to a localscale. The global patterns have been studied intensively using taxa such as foraminiferaand euphausiids. However, these studies do not allow direct comparisons of neritic andoceanic regions or examination of relationships between local and regional patterns ofpelagic diversity. Here we present a map of the diversity of calanoid copepods, a keyplanktonic group, summarising 40 yr of continuous monthly investigations in the NorthAtlantic and North Sea. The high number of samples (168 162) allowed mesoscale patterns indiversity to be detected for the first time at an ocean-basin level. Our resultsdemonstrate pronounced local spatial variability in planktonic diversity and refineprevious global studies at a lower resolution. They form a baseline at which long-termchanges in planktonic diversity can be better assessed and ecosystem management plansimplemented.

Reference:

G. Beagrand, P.C. Reid, F. Ibanez and B. Planque, 2000. Biodiversity of NorthAtlantic and North Sea calanoid copepods. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 204: 299-303.