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Distinctive copepod community of the estuarine turbidity maximum: comparative observations in three macrotidal estuaries (Chikugo, Midori, and Kuma Rivers), southwestern Japan

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Abstract

Copepods are considered to be a vital component connecting the unique macrotidal environment to the high productivity and high biodiversity of the Ariake Sea. To examine the spatiotemporal succession of copepod communities, we conducted monthly sampling (vertical hauls of a 100-μm mesh plankton net) in three neighboring macrotidal estuaries between 2005 and 2006. Irrespective of the season, three copepod communities were recognized in relation to the relatively long gradients of salinity and turbidity along the Chikugo and Midori River estuaries. The oligohaline community (salinity 1–10) was observed at higher turbidities (>100 NTU), whereas the freshwater (salinity <1) and meso/polyhaline (salinity >10) communities were associated with lower turbidities (<100 NTU). The oligohaline calanoid Sinocalanus sinensis occurred only in the Chikugo River estuary, maintaining a large biomass (dry weight >10 mg m−3) in or close to the well-developed estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) throughout the year. In the Midori River estuary, the oligohaline community lacked S. sinensis and showed a minimum biomass during winter (<10 mg m−3). In both estuaries, the freshwater community always remained at a small biomass (<1 mg m−3), whereas the meso/polyhaline community showed marked seasonal changes in biomass (0.1–657 mg m−3). The prevalence of higher salinities allowed only the meso/polyhaline community to occur in the Kuma River estuary. In summary, S. sinensis characterized the copepod community distinctive of the well-developed ETM, potentially serving as an important link to higher trophic levels during winter when copepods are scarce in other areas.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to express our gratitude to Mr. S. Koga of Okinohata Fisheries Cooperative Association, Mr. T. Tsukamoto of Shimochikugo Fisheries Cooperative Association, Mr. T. Fujimori of Kawaguchi Fisheries Cooperative Association, and S. Fujiwara of Yatsushiro Fisheries Cooperative Association, for their assistance with the field sampling. We are also grateful to Fukuoka Fisheries and Marine Technology Research Center and Kumamoto Prefectural Fisheries Research Center. Dr. H. Ueda of Usa Marine Biological Institute, Kochi University and Dr. M. Hibino of Marine Resources Research Center, Aichi Fisheries Research Institute provided us with technical advice concerning copepod taxonomy. Dr. J. Shoji of Takehara Fisheries Research Laboratory, Hiroshima University, Dr. T. Wada of Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Dr. R. Sugimoto of the Research Center for Marine Bioresources, Fukui Prefectural University, and graduate students in our laboratory helped with the field sampling. The present study was partially supported by grants-in-aid for scientific research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS; 23580253) and from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science.

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  1. Québec-Océan, Université Laval, 1045 Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Keita W. Suzuki

  2. Laboratory of Estuarine Ecology, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Kouji Nakayama

  3. International Institute for Advanced Studies, 9-3 Kizugawadai, Kizugawa, Kyoto, 619-0225, Japan

    Masaru Tanaka

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  1. Keita W. Suzuki
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Correspondence to Keita W. Suzuki.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 2, 3 and 4.

Table 2 Occurrence of copepod taxa identified in the Chikugo River estuary from May 2005 to December 2006
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Table 3 Occurrence of copepod taxa identified in the Midori River estuary from May 2005 to December 2006
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Table 4 Occurrence of copepod taxa identified in the Kuma River estuary from May 2005 to April 2006
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Suzuki, K.W., Nakayama, K. & Tanaka, M. Distinctive copepod community of the estuarine turbidity maximum: comparative observations in three macrotidal estuaries (Chikugo, Midori, and Kuma Rivers), southwestern Japan. J Oceanogr 69, 15–33 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-012-0151-7

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