Temporal dynamics of copepod taxa and trophic groups in a long-term time series in the NW-Mediterranean Sea

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Garcia, Théo | Bănaru, Daniela | Guilloux, Loïc | Berline, Léo | Carlotti, François

Edité par CCSD ; Oxford University Press (OUP) -

International audience. Abstract In the context of structural and functional changes in the pelagic environment, and the oligotrophication and the temperature increase of the North Western Mediterranean, this study analyses a 17-year time series (2006–2022) of copepod temporal variability in the Bay of Marseille. Mesozooplankton was sampled bimonthly (0–55 m) together with biotic and abiotic parameters. This study focuses on the temporal dynamics and ecological niches of copepod taxa and trophic groups. In the Bay of Marseille, herbivorous copepods, Clausocalanus–Paracalanus–Ctenocalanus–Pseudocalanus, dominated the community in abundance. From taxa realized niches, we identified that temperature and trophic conditions drove the seasonal and interannual dynamics of copepods. During the summer months of recent years, the increasing oligotrophication and warming of the seawater favoured carnivorous copepods. A shift in the copepod community structure since the mid-2010s was demonstrated, with a decrease in total copepod abundance and reduced dominance of spring copepod taxa. The trophic group dynamics were mostly driven by a few dominant taxa in each group. Recent environmental conditions favoured increases in the abundance of two warm-water affinity species (Corycaeidae and Temora stylifera) and were unfavourable to a cold-water affinity species (Calanus helgolandicus).

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