Seasonal development of plankton in the Barents Sea: A conceptual model
Working paper
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/296588Utgivelsesdato
1987Metadata
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Sammendrag
Capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a small salmonid fish that forms the
basis of one of the most important fisheries in the Barents Sea.
Relatively large variations in growth of capelin prompted
ecological investigations on the feeding conditions of capelin and
these were initiated by the Institute of Marine Research in 1979.
The studies were expanded in 1984 with the start of the Norwegian
Research Program for Marine Arctic Ecology (PRO MARE). A conceptual
model for the seasonal development of plankton has provided a
framework for our studies in the Barents Sea. The model emphasizes
the importance of the ice edge spring phytoplankton bloom for the
spawning and development of zooplankton and for the northwards
seasonal feeding migration of capelin. The model is reviewed in
light of field observations and some remaining key questions for
our further studies are pointed out. While the main elements of the
model have in broad terms been verified, it will in the future be
necessary to put more emphasis on large scale processes such as
transport of plankton by dominant currents and the ecological
feedback interactions such as predation by capelin and grazing by
zooplankton.