Abstract
The theory of SHELDONet al. (1972), stating that in marine pelagic communities biomass is distributed equally over logarithmic size classes, is tested for the inland part of the Oosterschelde. It is shown that none of the data on total particulate matter (including phytoplankton and non-phytoplankton particles), phytoplankton separately and zooplankton abundance and size, on a yearly basis, are distributed equally over the size range in which they occur. Using experimentally determined predation efficiency values for zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton, it is shown that the ratio of zooplankton-to phytoplankton biomass found is nevertheless rather consistent with the model of SHELDONet al. (1977).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BAKKER, C., T.C. PRINS and M.L.M. TACKX, 1985. Interpretation of particle spectra of electronic counters by microscopical methods. Hydrobiol. Bull., 19: 45–59.
BAKKER, C. and P. VAN RIJSWIJK, 1987. Development time and growth rate of the marine calanoid copepodTemora longicornis, as related to temperature and food conditions in the Oosterschelde estuary (southern North Sea). Neth. J. Sea. Res., 21: 125–141.
BAKKER, C., P.M.J. HERMAN and M. VINK, 1990. Changes in seasonal succession of phytoplankton induced by the storm-surge barrier in the Oosterschelde (S.W. Netherlands). J. Plankton Res., 12: 947–972.
CHERVIN, M., 1978. Assimilation of particulate carbon by estuarine and coastal copepods. Mar. Biol., 49: 265–275.
CHERVIN, M., T.C. MALONE and P.J. MEALE, 1981. Interactions between suspended organic matter and copepod grazing in the plume of the Hudson River. Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., 13: 169–183.
COWELS, T.J., 1979. The feeding response of copepods from the Peru upwelling system: food size selection. J. mar. Res., 37: 601–622.
GAMBLE, J.J., 1978. Copepod grazing during a declining spring phytoplankton bloom in the northern North Sea. Mar. Biol., 49: 303–315.
HEINLE, D.R. and D.A. FLEMER, 1975. Carbon requirements of a population of the estuarine copepodEurytemora affinis. Mar. Biol., 31: 235–247.
HEILE, D.R., R.P. HARRIS, J.F. USTACH and D.A. FLEMER, 1977. Detritus as food for estuarine copepods. Mar. Biol., 40: 341–353.
JOIRIS, C.G. BILLEN, C. LANCELOT, M.H. DARO, J.P. MOMMAERTS, A. BERTELS, M. BOSSICART, J. NYS and J.H. HECQ, 1982. A budget of carbon cycling in the Belgian coastal zone: relative roles of zooplankton, bacterioplankton and benthos in the utilization of primary production. Neth. J. Sea Res., 16: 260–275.
KERR, S.R., 1974. Theory of size distribution in ecological communities. J. Fish, Res. Board Can., 31: 1859–1862.
MALONE, T.C. and M.B. CHERVIN, 1979. The production and fate of phytoplankton size fractions in the plume of the Hudson River, New York Bight. Limnol. Oceanogr., 24: 683–696.
MINNS, C.K., E.S. MILLARD, J.M. COOLELY, M.G. JOHNSON, D.A. HURLEY, K.H. NICHOLLS, G.W. ROBINSON, G.E. OWEN and A. CROWDER, 1987. Production and biomass size spectra in the Bay of Quinte, a eutrophic ecosystem. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44 (Suppl. 2): 148–155.
PAPPENHOFER, G.A., J.R. STICKLER and M. ALCAZAR, 1982. Suspension-feeding by herbivorous calanoid copepods: a cinematographic study. Mar. Biol., 67: 193–199.
POULET, S.A., 1973. Grazing ofPseudocalanus minutus on naturally occurring particulate matter. Limnol. Oceanogr., 18: 564–573.
POULET, S.A., 1974. Seasonal grazing ofPseudocalanus minutus on particles. Mar. Biol., 25: 109–123.
POULET, S.A., 1976. Feeding ofPseudocalanus minutus on living and non-living particles. Mar. Biol., 34: 117–125.
POULET, S.A., 1978. Comparison between five coexisting species of marine copepods feeding on naturally occurring particulate matter. Limnol. Oceanogr., 6: 1126–1143.
PRICE, H.J., G.A. PAFFENHOFER and J.R. STRICKLER, 1983. Modes of cell capture in calanoid copepods. Limnol. Oceanogr., 28: 116–123.
RICHMAN, S., D.R. HEINLE and R. HUFF, 1977. Grazing by adult estuarine calanoid copepods of the Chesapeake Bay. Mar. Biol., 42: 69–84.
SHELDON, R.W., A. PRAKASH and W.H. SUTCLIFFE, 1972. The size distribution of particles in the ocean. Limnol. Oceanogr., 17: 327–340.
SHELDON, R.W., W.H. SUTCLIFFE JR. and M.A. PARANJAPE, 1977. Structure of pelagic food chain and relationship between plankton and fish production. J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 34: 2344–2353.
SPRULES, W.G., J.M. CASSELMAN and B.J. SHUTER, 1983. Size distribution of pelagic particles in lakes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 40: 1761–1769.
SPRULES, W.G. and M. MUNAWAR, 1986. Plankton size spectra in relation to ecosystem productivity, size and perturbation. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 43: 1789–1794.
STEARNS, D.E., W. LITAKER and G. ROSENBERG, 1987. Impacts of zooplankton grazing and excretion on short-interval fluctuations in chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations in a well-mixed estuary. Est. coast. Shelf Sci., 24: 305–325.
SCHOLTEN, H., O. KLEPPER, P.H. NIENHUIS and M. KNOESTER, 1990. Oosterschelde estuary (S.W. Netherlands): a self-sustaining ecosystem? Hydrobiologia, 195: 201–215.
TACKX, M.L.M., 1987. Grazing door zooplankton in de Oosterschelde. Ph.D. Thesis V.U.B. 209 pp.
TACKX, M.L.M., C. BAKKER, J.W. FRANCKC and M. VINK, 1989. Size and phytoplankton selection by Oosterschelde zooplankton. Neth. J. Sea Res. 23: 35–43.
TACKX, M.L.M., C. BAKKER and P. VAN RIJSWIJK, 1990. Zooplankton grazing pressure in the Oosterschelde (The Netherlands) Neth. Sea Res, 25: 405–415 (1990).
VAN YERLAND, E.T., 1985. Use of flowcytometry in grazing studies. Hydrobiol. Bull., 19: 37–39.
YENSCH, C.M., P.K. HORAN, K. MUIRHEAD, Q. DORTCH, E. HAUGEN, L. LEGENDRE, L.S. MURPHY, M.J. PERRY, D.A. PHINNEY, S.A. POMPONI, R.W. SPINRAD, M. WOOD, C.S. YENSCH and B.J. ZAHMANEC, 1983. Flowcytometry and cell sorting, a technique for analysis and sorting of aquatic particles. Limnol. Oceanogr., 28: 1275–1280.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communication no. 539 of the Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tackx, M.L.M., Francke, J.W., Van Rijswijk, P. et al. Size distributions and trophic relationship of the pelagic ecosystem in the Oosterschelde (S.W. Netherlands). Hydrobiological Bulletin 25, 9–14 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02259583
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02259583