Distribution of the pelagic copepodtemora turbinatain New Zealand coastal waters, and possible trans‐tasman population continuity

Abstract

The quantitative distribution of Temora turbinata in summer appears to be governed in the New Zealand region by subtropical currents and by its nutritional requirements. The existence of T. turbinata principally in coastal waters suggests that threshold nutritional conditions exist beneath which this species cannot breed. Temora turbinata apparently attains very large numbers only in enclosed or semi-enclosed bodies of water, where wholesale exchange of local water with adjacent water does not take place.

Distribution of reactive phosphorus and plankton in relation to upwelling and surface circulation around New Zealand

“…North of New Zealand in the vicinity of Three Kings Islands an area of maximum values is found which must be associated with the well-documented upwelling which occurs in the region (Bradford 1969;Garner 1954Garner , 1961Stanton 1969Stanton , 1973.…”

“…6) is prepared from data found in Table 3. The biomass of samples taken at night may be twice that of those taken during the day (Bradford 1970). However, this difference is small compared with seasonal variation.…”

“…The surface distribution patterns derived from data taken in various spring, summer, and autumn months are assumed to depict regional rather than seasonal variations. This assumption is based on work done at Kaikoura (Bradford 1972), which demonstrates that, apart from the spring bloom, surface or 10 m chlorophyll a concentrations remained at about l.Omg.rrr 3 from the beginning of August 1964 until April 1965.…”

“…The spring phytoplankton bloom occurs from late August to the middle of October in New Zealand waters (Cassie 1960, Bradford 1972 and thus some of the very high surface chlorophyll a and primary productivity values to the east of East Cape may be a seasonal effect. Nevertheless, high chlorophyll a values recorded in the same area in December indicate the persistence of the effect beyond the spring bloom.…”

“…However, this difference is small compared with seasonal variation. From what little that is known of annual changes in zooplankton in the southwest Pacific, a maximum is to be expected in September to October which is between one and two orders of magnitude greater than the winter minimum (Tranter 1962, Wear 1965, Jillett 1971, Bradford 1972. Because most data collated here were collected during the period November to February, and winter values are omitted, gross trends are assumed to depict regional patterns.…”