SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION
OF
MARINE PLANKTON
By
Lin Yuan-Shao,Cao Wen-Qing
Guo Dong-Hui,Wu Li-Sheng,Fang Lv-Ping
2004.5.30
Chapter 14
Some terms and definition
1,Dominant species（ 优势种 ）, Animals that are the most abundant and high
frequent appeared in community.
2,Common species（ 习见种 ）, abundance ranks second class and high frequent
appeared in community.
3,Locally abundant species（ 局限种 ）, species that distribute in a limited
season or area.
4,Uncommon species（ 少见种 ）, fewer abundance and lower frequent in
community
5,Rare species（稀有种）,,species that are accidentally appeared in community,
根据海域或群落中生物的数量等级和出现频率划分５级，如上。
6,Cold water species（冷水种）,optimal temperature for reproductive and growth is
lower then 4℃,monthly average water temperature in natural distribution area is lower then
10℃,including cold zone species and subcold zone species
6,Cold zone species（寒带种）, optimal temperature 0℃
7,Subcold zone species（亚寒带种）, optimal temperature between 0-4℃
7,Temperate water species（温水种）,optimal temperature for reproductive and
growth is lower then 4-20℃,monthly average water temperature in natural distribution area is
between 10-15℃,including cold temperate species and warm temperate species
6,Cold temperate species（冷温带种）, 4-10℃
7,Warm temperate species（暖温带种）, 10-20℃
8,Warm water species（暖水种）,optimal temperature for reproductive and growth is
higher then 20℃,monthly average water temperature in natural distribution area is higher then
15℃,including cold zone species and subcold zone species
6,Subtropical species（亚热带种）, 20-25℃
7,Tropical species（热带种）, > 25℃
In this chapter we shall discuss the following subjects:
1,Variation both in plankton species diversity and biomass
with time (seasonal distribution)
2,Biological seasons
3,Some examples in China Seas and Xiamen Harbour.
§ 14.1 What is plankton seasonal variation?
? One of ecological phenomenon
? successive seasonal variation
both in plankton species
diversity and biomass,
including annual variations.
? Meroplankton
? Holoplankton
Seasonal variation of meroplankton
What is meroplankton?
Meroplankton are the larval stages of invertebrates and
fishes that spend only early part of their lives
in the zooplankton
Planktonic Larvae of Porifera
Porifera （海绵动物）
Amphiblastular larva
（两囊幼虫）
Coelenterata （腔肠动物）
Planular Larva （浮浪幼虫）
Ephyra （蝶状幼体）
Actinula （辐射幼虫）
Nemertini （纽虫类）
Pilidium （帽状幼虫）
Mollusca （软体动物）
Trochophora （担轮幼虫）
Veliger （面盘幼虫）
Crustacea （甲壳动物）
Branchiopoda （鳃足类）
Cirripedia （蔓足类）
Nauplius （无节幼虫）
Cypris Larva （腺介幼虫）
Polychaeta （多毛类）
Trochophora （担轮幼虫）
Netochaete （疣足幼虫）
Copepoda （桡足类）
Nauplius （无节幼体）
Copepodite （桡足幼体）
Euphausia （磷虾类）
Nauplius
（无节幼虫）
Calyptopis
（节胸幼体）
Furcilia
（带叉幼体）
Cyrtopia
（节鞭幼体）
Decapoda （十足类）
Macruran Larvae （长尾类幼虫）
Anomura Larvae （歪尾类幼虫）
Brachyura Larvae （短尾类幼虫）
Stomatopoda （口足类）
Antizoea （前水蚤幼体）
Erichthus larva （伊雷奇幼体）
Pseudozoea （假水蚤幼体）
Alima larva （阿利玛幼体）
Echinodermata （棘皮动物）
bipinnaria larva
羽腕幼虫
ophiopluteus larba
长腕幼虫
Chordata （脊索动物）
Fish
fish larva
仔鱼
Urochorda
（尾索动物）
tadpole larva
蝌蚪幼虫
tornaria larva
柱头幼虫
Hemicorda (半索类 )
doliolaria larva
樽形幼虫
Seasonal variation of the meroplankton
Reproduction activities
of benthos is the most important
factors affecting meroplankton
species diversity and biomass
S S A W S S A W S
20℃
15℃
100
50
150
No,
of l
arv
ae
25℃
Examples of variation in the abundance of
meroplanktonic larvae,pluteii of sea urchin,
Villefranche,France,1961
? Other examples:
? fish eggs
? larvae
? medusae released by hydrozoa,
? the breeding forms of certain polychaetes etc.
Seasonal Distribution of meroplankton
? In spring,summer and autumn,the larvae are abundant both
in diversity and quantity.
? The seasonal distribution of pelagic larvae is affected by
environmental factors and the internal factor of periodicity
of reproduction.
Ecological Characteristics of
Planktonic Larvae
? Periodicity （周期性）
? Transient （短期性）
? Patchy Distribution （分布的不均匀性）
§ 14.2 Seasonal variation of holoplankton
What is holoplankton?
Spend their whole lives in the plankton
Alexamdrium
tarmarensis
Ceratium spp.
Peridium spp.
Dinophysis spp.
Seasonal variation of the holoplankton
? These organisms which spend their entire life-cycle in the water
sometimes show important quantitative variations over the year.
? The main families of Appendicularia,the fritillariidea,and the Oikopleuridea
? The tunicate(eg,Salpa fusiformis)
? The Tintinnida,Proplectellaclaparedei,and Tintinnopsis sp.
? The hololanktonic Crustacea,eg,Calanus finmarchicus
? From such quantitative research it is possible to identify the successive
generations and recognize the annual cycle of the species,These changes
are frequently accompanied by variations in the size of the adults; the
largest are developed at the lowest temperature.
Total seasonal variation
? Each group is represented by more or less numerous
species which differ in their appearance,calendar”.
? Pseudocalanus is well represented throughout much of the year
? while,in contrast,Temora is abundant only during the first half
of the year
? and Oithona increases only during the second half.
? whether there are seasonal quantitative variation in tropical
water?
? In the Sargasso Sea,some researcher found that there was an
annual cycle with a maximum abundance (volume and dry
weight) in March-April.
§ 14.3 Seasonal variation of plankton
in different latitude
? High and medium latitude (polar and temperate)
? Herbivorous copepods and their life-cycle pattern
played an important role in control and regulation
of phytoplankton amount and its variation.
? Life cycle of herbivorous copepods
? The copepod usually has abundance in late-spring and
summer season around year.
? The female is almost unfed.
? There are reproduction and development around all year.
After spring bloom they usually appear an amount peak in
summer.
? Life cycle of carnivorous copepods
These kind of copepods always have a little seasonal variation in
biomass.
Life cycle of zooplankton
§ 14.4 Relationship between phyto-
and zoo- plankton
? In high and medium latitude sea
? Zooplankton peak always appears behind phytoplankton,
delayed in one month more or less.
? The life cycle of dominant species,especially
herbivorous copepods,play an important role in the
regulation of phytoplankton.
1） Zooplankton peak appears behind phytoplankton in spring
（ 2） Zooplankton peak appears at the same time with phytoplankton
in spring
（ 3） Zooplankton peak appears before phytoplankton in spring
Seasonal variation in low latitude
1,Seasonal variation in
phytoplankton
2,Seasonal variation in
zooplankton
3,Relationship between
phyto- and zoo-
plankton
Difference of biological seasons between the sea
areas in different latitudes
§ 14.5 Seasonal variation of
planktonic biomass in China sea
MAP OF CHINA SEAS
Plankton seasonal variation in
Xiamen harbour
XIAMEN HOURBOR
OF
MARINE PLANKTON
By
Lin Yuan-Shao,Cao Wen-Qing
Guo Dong-Hui,Wu Li-Sheng,Fang Lv-Ping
2004.5.30
Chapter 14
Some terms and definition
1,Dominant species（ 优势种 ）, Animals that are the most abundant and high
frequent appeared in community.
2,Common species（ 习见种 ）, abundance ranks second class and high frequent
appeared in community.
3,Locally abundant species（ 局限种 ）, species that distribute in a limited
season or area.
4,Uncommon species（ 少见种 ）, fewer abundance and lower frequent in
community
5,Rare species（稀有种）,,species that are accidentally appeared in community,
根据海域或群落中生物的数量等级和出现频率划分５级，如上。
6,Cold water species（冷水种）,optimal temperature for reproductive and growth is
lower then 4℃,monthly average water temperature in natural distribution area is lower then
10℃,including cold zone species and subcold zone species
6,Cold zone species（寒带种）, optimal temperature 0℃
7,Subcold zone species（亚寒带种）, optimal temperature between 0-4℃
7,Temperate water species（温水种）,optimal temperature for reproductive and
growth is lower then 4-20℃,monthly average water temperature in natural distribution area is
between 10-15℃,including cold temperate species and warm temperate species
6,Cold temperate species（冷温带种）, 4-10℃
7,Warm temperate species（暖温带种）, 10-20℃
8,Warm water species（暖水种）,optimal temperature for reproductive and growth is
higher then 20℃,monthly average water temperature in natural distribution area is higher then
15℃,including cold zone species and subcold zone species
6,Subtropical species（亚热带种）, 20-25℃
7,Tropical species（热带种）, > 25℃
In this chapter we shall discuss the following subjects:
1,Variation both in plankton species diversity and biomass
with time (seasonal distribution)
2,Biological seasons
3,Some examples in China Seas and Xiamen Harbour.
§ 14.1 What is plankton seasonal variation?
? One of ecological phenomenon
? successive seasonal variation
both in plankton species
diversity and biomass,
including annual variations.
? Meroplankton
? Holoplankton
Seasonal variation of meroplankton
What is meroplankton?
Meroplankton are the larval stages of invertebrates and
fishes that spend only early part of their lives
in the zooplankton
Planktonic Larvae of Porifera
Porifera （海绵动物）
Amphiblastular larva
（两囊幼虫）
Coelenterata （腔肠动物）
Planular Larva （浮浪幼虫）
Ephyra （蝶状幼体）
Actinula （辐射幼虫）
Nemertini （纽虫类）
Pilidium （帽状幼虫）
Mollusca （软体动物）
Trochophora （担轮幼虫）
Veliger （面盘幼虫）
Crustacea （甲壳动物）
Branchiopoda （鳃足类）
Cirripedia （蔓足类）
Nauplius （无节幼虫）
Cypris Larva （腺介幼虫）
Polychaeta （多毛类）
Trochophora （担轮幼虫）
Netochaete （疣足幼虫）
Copepoda （桡足类）
Nauplius （无节幼体）
Copepodite （桡足幼体）
Euphausia （磷虾类）
Nauplius
（无节幼虫）
Calyptopis
（节胸幼体）
Furcilia
（带叉幼体）
Cyrtopia
（节鞭幼体）
Decapoda （十足类）
Macruran Larvae （长尾类幼虫）
Anomura Larvae （歪尾类幼虫）
Brachyura Larvae （短尾类幼虫）
Stomatopoda （口足类）
Antizoea （前水蚤幼体）
Erichthus larva （伊雷奇幼体）
Pseudozoea （假水蚤幼体）
Alima larva （阿利玛幼体）
Echinodermata （棘皮动物）
bipinnaria larva
羽腕幼虫
ophiopluteus larba
长腕幼虫
Chordata （脊索动物）
Fish
fish larva
仔鱼
Urochorda
（尾索动物）
tadpole larva
蝌蚪幼虫
tornaria larva
柱头幼虫
Hemicorda (半索类 )
doliolaria larva
樽形幼虫
Seasonal variation of the meroplankton
Reproduction activities
of benthos is the most important
factors affecting meroplankton
species diversity and biomass
S S A W S S A W S
20℃
15℃
100
50
150
No,
of l
arv
ae
25℃
Examples of variation in the abundance of
meroplanktonic larvae,pluteii of sea urchin,
Villefranche,France,1961
? Other examples:
? fish eggs
? larvae
? medusae released by hydrozoa,
? the breeding forms of certain polychaetes etc.
Seasonal Distribution of meroplankton
? In spring,summer and autumn,the larvae are abundant both
in diversity and quantity.
? The seasonal distribution of pelagic larvae is affected by
environmental factors and the internal factor of periodicity
of reproduction.
Ecological Characteristics of
Planktonic Larvae
? Periodicity （周期性）
? Transient （短期性）
? Patchy Distribution （分布的不均匀性）
§ 14.2 Seasonal variation of holoplankton
What is holoplankton?
Spend their whole lives in the plankton
Alexamdrium
tarmarensis
Ceratium spp.
Peridium spp.
Dinophysis spp.
Seasonal variation of the holoplankton
? These organisms which spend their entire life-cycle in the water
sometimes show important quantitative variations over the year.
? The main families of Appendicularia,the fritillariidea,and the Oikopleuridea
? The tunicate(eg,Salpa fusiformis)
? The Tintinnida,Proplectellaclaparedei,and Tintinnopsis sp.
? The hololanktonic Crustacea,eg,Calanus finmarchicus
? From such quantitative research it is possible to identify the successive
generations and recognize the annual cycle of the species,These changes
are frequently accompanied by variations in the size of the adults; the
largest are developed at the lowest temperature.
Total seasonal variation
? Each group is represented by more or less numerous
species which differ in their appearance,calendar”.
? Pseudocalanus is well represented throughout much of the year
? while,in contrast,Temora is abundant only during the first half
of the year
? and Oithona increases only during the second half.
? whether there are seasonal quantitative variation in tropical
water?
? In the Sargasso Sea,some researcher found that there was an
annual cycle with a maximum abundance (volume and dry
weight) in March-April.
§ 14.3 Seasonal variation of plankton
in different latitude
? High and medium latitude (polar and temperate)
? Herbivorous copepods and their life-cycle pattern
played an important role in control and regulation
of phytoplankton amount and its variation.
? Life cycle of herbivorous copepods
? The copepod usually has abundance in late-spring and
summer season around year.
? The female is almost unfed.
? There are reproduction and development around all year.
After spring bloom they usually appear an amount peak in
summer.
? Life cycle of carnivorous copepods
These kind of copepods always have a little seasonal variation in
biomass.
Life cycle of zooplankton
§ 14.4 Relationship between phyto-
and zoo- plankton
? In high and medium latitude sea
? Zooplankton peak always appears behind phytoplankton,
delayed in one month more or less.
? The life cycle of dominant species,especially
herbivorous copepods,play an important role in the
regulation of phytoplankton.
1） Zooplankton peak appears behind phytoplankton in spring
（ 2） Zooplankton peak appears at the same time with phytoplankton
in spring
（ 3） Zooplankton peak appears before phytoplankton in spring
Seasonal variation in low latitude
1,Seasonal variation in
phytoplankton
2,Seasonal variation in
zooplankton
3,Relationship between
phyto- and zoo-
plankton
Difference of biological seasons between the sea
areas in different latitudes
§ 14.5 Seasonal variation of
planktonic biomass in China sea
MAP OF CHINA SEAS
Plankton seasonal variation in
Xiamen harbour
XIAMEN HOURBOR
