Effects of hypoxia on the seasonal cycle of zooplankton communities in Puget Sound, WA
Presentation Abstract
Hypoxia is increasing in severity with global climate change and is predicted to lead to changes in zooplankton diversity and species composition. In particular, hypoxia is hypothesized to lead to increased dominance of taxa with low metabolic rates such as gelatinous species and cyclopoid copepods, and a decrease in the larger crustaceans that are preferred prey of many upper trophic level organisms. We are studying relationships between ocean chemistry and zooplankton in Puget Sound, Washington—a deep, seasonally hypoxic fjord in the Pacific Northwest that supports a diverse zooplankton community. How zooplankton species composition, behavior, growth, and energy flow to predators are altered by hypoxia is a focus of our research. Here we will examine the hypothesis that seasonal hypoxia leads to changes in zooplankton community structure using in situ sampling from late spring to early fall at four sites along a gradient of oxygen conditions in two contrasting years. We use multi-species analysis techniques to quantify changes in the zooplankton to better understand community-level responses to hypoxia and potential implications to fish.
Session Title
Session S-02D: Pelagic Ecology in the Salish Sea II
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
30-4-2014 1:30 PM
End Date
30-4-2014 3:00 PM
Location
Room 611-612
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Hypoxia (Water)--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Marine zooplankton--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Effects of hypoxia on the seasonal cycle of zooplankton communities in Puget Sound, WA
Room 611-612
Hypoxia is increasing in severity with global climate change and is predicted to lead to changes in zooplankton diversity and species composition. In particular, hypoxia is hypothesized to lead to increased dominance of taxa with low metabolic rates such as gelatinous species and cyclopoid copepods, and a decrease in the larger crustaceans that are preferred prey of many upper trophic level organisms. We are studying relationships between ocean chemistry and zooplankton in Puget Sound, Washington—a deep, seasonally hypoxic fjord in the Pacific Northwest that supports a diverse zooplankton community. How zooplankton species composition, behavior, growth, and energy flow to predators are altered by hypoxia is a focus of our research. Here we will examine the hypothesis that seasonal hypoxia leads to changes in zooplankton community structure using in situ sampling from late spring to early fall at four sites along a gradient of oxygen conditions in two contrasting years. We use multi-species analysis techniques to quantify changes in the zooplankton to better understand community-level responses to hypoxia and potential implications to fish.
