Studies on the deep-water pelagic community of Korsfjorden, western Norway

Abstract

The weight frequency distribution and protein and lipid concentration of adult Euchaeta are affected by the non-feeding behaviour of the males and by the breeding cycle of the females. The active growth of copepodids IV and V leads to a higher ratio between the range and the mean of the dry weight than for the adult animals. The specific growth rate of copepodids stage IV has been estimated at 3.3% per day, which is almost 7 times as high as for adult females. The relationship between protein and dry weight is not always inversely related to that of lipid and. dry weight, and this is discussed. The individual lipid concentration is positively correlated with the dry weight for copepodids IV and V and for adult males, but less so for adult females. The reason for this is discussed. The theoretical turnover time for adult males is about 40 days. During early summer the standing stock of the Euchaeta population is determined primarily by recruitment and mortality factors and secondarily by growth of individuals.