Vertical distribution of mesozooplankton and ichthyoplankton communities in the South-western Atlantic Ocean (23°14′1″S 40°42′19″W)

• DOI: 10.1017/s0025315417001989
• Publication Date: 2018-01-09T07:19:25Z
• Authors: Ana C. T. Bonecker; Cristina De O. Dias; Marcia S. De Castro; Pedro F. De Carvalho; Adriana V. Araujo; Rodolfo Paranhos; Anderson S. Cabral; Sergio L. C. Bone...
• Keywords: Ichthyoplankton; Antarctic Intermediate Water; Bacterioplankton; Circumpolar deep water

A study was conducted over eight consecutive days in February 2010 which daily variations the vertical distributions of heterotrophic bacteria, mesozooplankton and ichthyoplankton at 1–1200 m South-western Atlantic Ocean were investigated. Diurnal nocturnal samples collected an oceanographic station four regional depths: Tropical Water (TW) (1 m), South Central (SACW) (250 Antarctic Intermediate (AAIW) (800 m) Upper Circumpolar Deep (UCDW) (1200 m). Bacterial, larval fish densities significantly differed between sample depths but not sampling tow times. In total, 154 zooplankton species 18 identified. The highest number taxa obtained from night-time TW trawls. This depth zone had mesozooplankton, bacterioplankton (auto heterotrophic), associated with temperature salinity lowest inorganic nutrient concentrations. Two groups identified based on their compositions: other water masses (daytime TW, SACW, AAIW UCDW). Thirty-two indicator detected TW. copepod Nullosetigera impar was, to best our knowledge, for first time Brazilian coast. Our results showed significant variability abundance distribution along column oceanic area. We have provided new data insights composition deep waters Ocean.