Understanding Zooplankton Community Dynamics and Functional Diversity

To assess the ecological significance of zooplankton in Florida’s Central Atlantic, this study examined the community structure and copepod functional diversity of surface (1-6m) tow samples (n = 133) collected in 2021 and 2022. Our findings reveal a diverse plankton community dominated by adult copepods, with significant contributions from bivalve larvae, larvaceans and chaetognaths. Within the copepod fraction the genera Acartia, Nannocalanus and Paracalanus were the most common across both sampling seasons. Functional diversity analysis, based on 16 functional entities, provides additional insights into the ecological roles of copepods. Functional diversity indices and functional space were similar across the two years, although community composition changed. By understanding the dynamics of zooplankton communities, we can better appreciate their crucial roles in marine food webs and biogeochemical cycles, ultimately contributing to the preservation of healthy and resilient coastal ecosystems.

Presentation Preference: Poster

Primary Presenter: GABRIELLE Corradino, Barnard College of Columbia University (gabrielle.corradino@gmail.com)

Authors:

Amelia Rice, Barnard College of Columbia University  (agr2163@barnard.edu)

Gabrielle Corradino, Barnard College of Columbia University  (gcorradi@barnard.edu)

Jessica Pate, Florida Manta Project  (jessica.pate@marinemegafauna.org)