Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental Conditions
This study covers a large area around the Kuril Islands, one of the longest island arcs in the world, crossing several climatic zones, which allows for observations of longitudinal shifts in planktonic species’ ranges following shifts in the boundaries between the climatic zones. We analyzed spatial...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Valentina Kasyan |
| author_facet | Valentina Kasyan |
| author_sort | Valentina Kasyan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study covers a large area around the Kuril Islands, one of the longest island arcs in the world, crossing several climatic zones, which allows for observations of longitudinal shifts in planktonic species’ ranges following shifts in the boundaries between the climatic zones. We analyzed spatial and vertical changes in the zooplankton community structure and the associated environmental factors from Yuri Island to Onekotan Island both in Pacific and Sea of Okhotsk waters, which are influenced by cold and warm water masses. Species diversity in the Pacific waters was higher than in the Sea of Okhotsk waters, with a peak of diversity recorded from warm waters off the southern Kuril Islands associated with the Soya Current and the Kuroshio Extension. Zooplankton abundance and biomass above the thermocline were higher in the Pacific waters compared to the Sea of Okhotsk area, showing a tendency to increase with higher latitude and lower water temperatures and generally to decline with depth. The water temperature and salinity below the thermocline were the most important explanatory environmental variables responsible for zooplankton abundance variations. The distribution patterns of the large-sized copepods were strongly correlated with temperature and salinity, as well as with dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll <i>a</i> levels. In contrast, small-sized copepods were adapted to or thrived in the areas with elevated temperature and salinity values and a reduced chlorophyll <i>a</i> concentration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c949987f77074ef98044fa8fdbaf8a46 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c949987f77074ef98044fa8fdbaf8a462025-08-20T03:58:27ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-07-0114782710.3390/biology14070827Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental ConditionsValentina Kasyan0Laboratory of Systematics and Morphology, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS), Vladivostok 690041, RussiaThis study covers a large area around the Kuril Islands, one of the longest island arcs in the world, crossing several climatic zones, which allows for observations of longitudinal shifts in planktonic species’ ranges following shifts in the boundaries between the climatic zones. We analyzed spatial and vertical changes in the zooplankton community structure and the associated environmental factors from Yuri Island to Onekotan Island both in Pacific and Sea of Okhotsk waters, which are influenced by cold and warm water masses. Species diversity in the Pacific waters was higher than in the Sea of Okhotsk waters, with a peak of diversity recorded from warm waters off the southern Kuril Islands associated with the Soya Current and the Kuroshio Extension. Zooplankton abundance and biomass above the thermocline were higher in the Pacific waters compared to the Sea of Okhotsk area, showing a tendency to increase with higher latitude and lower water temperatures and generally to decline with depth. The water temperature and salinity below the thermocline were the most important explanatory environmental variables responsible for zooplankton abundance variations. The distribution patterns of the large-sized copepods were strongly correlated with temperature and salinity, as well as with dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll <i>a</i> levels. In contrast, small-sized copepods were adapted to or thrived in the areas with elevated temperature and salinity values and a reduced chlorophyll <i>a</i> concentration.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/827zooplanktoncompositionabundancebiomassdistributionenvironmental factors |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Kasyan Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental Conditions Biology zooplankton composition abundance biomass distribution environmental factors |
| title | Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental Conditions |
| title_full | Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental Conditions |
| title_short | Distribution of Summer Zooplankton in the Waters off the Kuril Islands (Northwest Pacific) in Relationship with Environmental Conditions |
| title_sort | distribution of summer zooplankton in the waters off the kuril islands northwest pacific in relationship with environmental conditions |
| topic | zooplankton composition abundance biomass distribution environmental factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/827 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT valentinakasyan distributionofsummerzooplanktoninthewatersoffthekurilislandsnorthwestpacificinrelationshipwithenvironmentalconditions |