Chinese Journal of Polar Research ›› 2023, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 59-71.DOI: 10.13679/j.jdyj.20210096

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The structure of zooplankton community and its sensitivity to environmental factors around the South Shetland Islands in summer of 2016/2017

Wang Junjian1, 2, 3, Zhang Ye4, Wang Yanqing5, Yang Guang2, 3, 6   

  1. 1 Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China;
    2Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 
    Qingdao 266071, China;
    3Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 
    Qingdao 266071, China;
    4 East China Sea Area and Island Center, MNR, Shanghai 200136, China;
    5Department of Engineering and Technology Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China;
    6Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
  • Online:2023-03-31 Published:2023-03-17

Abstract: The structure, abundance, and diversity of the zooplankton community and its sensitivity to environmental factors in the seawaters of the South Shetland Islands, from late 2016 to early 2017, were analyzed. Twenty-four species of zooplankton were detected. The total abundance was 1095.51 ind∙m−3. The most abundant zooplankton were Euphausia superba, Calanoides acutus, Oithona similis and Salpa thompsoni. Their distribution was positively correlated with surface temperature. Conversely, the Shannon-Wiener and Pielou indices were negatively correlated with surface temperature. This shows that the strong recent warming of West Antarctic waters promotes the growth of common zooplankton in the South Shetland Islands seawaters in summer, but probably causes a decrease in the evenness and diversity of the zooplankton community. This study investigated the zooplankton distribution in important fishing grounds for Euphausia superba, providing fundamental information to understand the formation of krill fishing grounds.

Key words: zooplankton, community structure, South Shetland Islands, environmental factors