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Intercomparison of six Mediterranean zooplankton time series

Analysis and comparison of Mediterranean mesozooplankton time series spanning 6 1957-2006 from six coastal stations in the Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, North and 7 Middle Adriatic and Aegean Sea, were carried out. The analysis focused on 8 taxonomic group fluctuations in relation with environment and climate variability. 9 Average seasonal cycles and interannual trends were derived. Large differences of 10 trophic status were observed among the stations. Regarding the Mediterranean as a 11 whole, positive correlations were found between several northwestern stations 12 (Villefranche, Naples, Trieste) for temperature and zooplankton, and negative 13 correlations were found between western and eastern stations (Trieste-Athens, 14 Villefranche-Athens) for copepods abundance ; This west-east opposition is supported 15 by distinct influence of atmospheric patterns such as NAO and EA/WR in the western 16 and eastern basins. Detailed results showed 1) coherent trends off Villefranche sur 17 mer for the different taxa that diverge from the previous results found at species level, 18 2) in Baleares, covariation of zooplankton and water masses as a consequence of the 19 boundary hydrographic regime in the middle Western Mediterranean 3) decrease in 20 trophic status and abundance of some taxonomic groups off Naples, and 4) off 21 Athens, an increase of zooplankton abundance and decrease in chlorophyll possibly 22 caused by an anthropogenic reduction of nutrient input, increase of microbial 23 components, and more efficient grazing control on phytoplankton. 5) At a larger scale, 24 temperature analysis revealed significant correlations between Villefranche, Trieste 3 and Naples for annual and/or winter average, 1 and synchronous abrupt cooling and 2 warming events centered in 1987 at the same three sites. 6) In Split, the North Atlantic 3 Oscillation was shown to be linked with temperature and cladocerans abundance. 4 Finally in Athens 7), temperature and copepod abundance were found linked with the 5 Eastern Atlantic/Western Russian pattern.

zooplankton time series; taxonomic groups; NAO; EA/WR; Mediterranean Sea; Balearic Sea; Ligurian Sea; Tyrrhenian Sea; Adriatic Sea; Aegean Sea

Global Comparisons of Zooplankton Time Series ; Pierre Pepin, David Mackas, Hans Verheye (ur.).