Copepods Flashcards
How many species of copepods are there approximately?
Approximately 11,400 species
This includes about 2,100 species belonging to the Calanoida order.
What types of environments do copepods inhabit?
Copepods inhabit:
* Freshwater
* Brackish water
* Marine waters
* Anchialine caves
* Deep-sea vents
* Inland saline and hypersaline waters
* Semi-terrestrial micro-habitats
What is the maximum depth at which copepods can be found?
Up to -10,000m in the Philippine Trench
Copepods can also be found at elevations of 5,540m in the Himalayan mountains.
What is the most abundant order of copepods in marine plankton?
Calanoida
Other orders include Cyclopoida, which is abundant in freshwater, and Harpacticoida, which is found in benthic habitats.
List the categories of copepod size.
Copepods are categorized by size:
* Nanoplankton: 2-20 µm
* Mikroplankton: 20-200 µm
* Mesoplankton: 200-2000 µm
* Makroplankton: 2-20 mm
* Megaplankton: > 20 mm
What are the two main body segments of copepods?
Prosome and urosome
The segments in these areas can sometimes be fused.
What distinguishes adult male and female copepods?
Sexual dimorphism, with modifications in:
* Male’s antennule and 5th leg
* Female’s genital somite (double-somite in females, single in males)
How many stages are in the copepod life cycle before reaching adulthood?
12 stages: 6 nauplii stages and 6 copepodite stages
Copepods undergo 11 moults with no moulting as adults.
What are the two main types of reproductive strategies in copepods?
Copepods can be:
* Egg-carrying, with egg sacs attached to the first urosomal segment
* Broadcast spawners, releasing eggs freely into the water
Fill in the blank: Copepods produce resting eggs that can be either _______ or _______.
[subitaneous] or [diapause]
What are the two main overwintering strategies of copepods?
Quiescence and diapause
Quiescence is a hypometabolic state, while diapause is a resting state triggered by cyclic changes.
Which copepod species is known for vertical migrations and diapause in the North Atlantic Ocean?
Calanus finmarchicus
What role do copepods play in the marine food web?
They contribute up to 80% of mesozooplankton biomass
They are a central component of the food web and contribute to carbon transport.
How do copepods contribute to the biological carbon pump?
By transporting carbon to the deep ocean through daily vertical migration and seasonal migration
What impact does climate change have on Calanus species distribution?
There is a trend of increasing C. finmarchicus in the Barents Sea due to Atlantification of the Arctic.
What is the total quota for Calanus stocks in the Norwegian fishery?
254,000 tons per year
This is about 0.5% of the standing stock.
True or False: Copepods are considered sentinels of climate change.
True
At what levels can copepods be identified?
Copepods can be identified at:
* Order level (e.g., Calanoida, Cyclopoida)
* Genus level (e.g., Temora, Acartia)
* Species level (e.g., Calanus finmarchicus)
What tools are used to monitor copepod abundance relative to temperature?
Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR)
