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Copepod species diversity and climate variability in the tropical Atlantic
Ocean
Sergey A. Piontkovski 1,2,* and Michael R. Landry
3
1 Marine Sciences Research Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
11794-5000, USA
2 Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, 2 Nahimov Avenue, Sevastopol 99011,
Ukraine
3 Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu HI
96822, USA
Abstract
A database synthesized from 19 oceanographic expeditions conducted by the
former Soviet Union was used to analyse interannual patterns in copepod species
diversity in the tropical Atlantic.
Mesozooplankton was collected predominately in vertical hauls through the
upper 100 m with Juday nets. The samples from 744 oceanographic stations were
identified and enumerated to the species level. To assess species diversity, the
Shannon diversity index was used.
On the interdecadal scale, no statistically confirmed trend was found in species
diversity change over the years sampled (1963–89).
Multiple regression analysis indicated that interannual fluctuations of the
South Atlantic High (pressure and latitude), the Azores High longitude and El Niño–Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) index could explain 87% of species diversity fluctuations.
Possible mechanisms that drive interannual fluctuations of species diversity are
discussed.
*Correspondence. e-mail:
spiontkovski@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY 12:4/5, 352–359, 2003
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