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International Council for the C.M. 1988/L: 1 Exploration of the Sea Report of Activities

BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY COHHITTEE

1987

by

M. Sinclair

""~ :~'.;':':':,~.-'" - 1 -

H. Slncla1r

The follow1ng ls a summary of some of the relevant actlvltles In Canada; for further details, please consult the lndlvlduals named In each sectlon. DEPARTHENT OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS Bl010glcal Sclences Branch, Scotla-Fundy Region P.O. Box 550, Hallfax, Nova Scotla, B3J 2S1 (M. Slnclalr, Dlrector) Prlmary Productlvlty Wlth the current world-wlde lnterest In the role of the oceans In global cllmate change, partlcular attention has been glven to developlng tools for determlnlng prlmary productlvlty by satelilte remote senslng. It Is clear from satelilte lmagery that the complex patterns of chlorophyll distribution In the oceans cannot be adequately sampled In time and space uslng shlphoard methodology. It Is, therefore, Imperative to develop a remote senslng approach. The basis of the method currently proposed Is the estlmatlon of chlorophyll biomass uslng an ocean colour scanner and comblnatlon of chlorophyll biomass data wlth lncldent light data to glve an estlmate of the rate of prlmary productlon. Slnce a satelilte sees only the top few cm of the water column, and slnce phytoplankton cells dlffer wldely In thelr physlo10glcal response to light, any algorlthms for estlmatlng the rate of prlmary productlon are sure to lnvolve slmpllfylng assumptlons. Nevertheless, early attempts, whlch were of an emplrlcal nature, were not all that bad. The relationship between surface light and blomass-normallzed prlmary productlon of the ocean water-column turns out to be remarkably stable. Archlved chlorophyll data collected as part of the Scotlan Shelf IChthyoplankton Program are currently belng compared wlth the approprlate CZCS satellite Images, as part of a ground-truthlng program. In 1986, Platt publlshed an algorlthm that embodled two assumptlons: (1) a linear 11ght-photosynthesis model; and (11) uniform distribution of photosynthetlc biomass wlth depth. In that paper, the consequences of the first assumptlon were addressed and correctlon procedures developed. Durlng 1987, Platt and colleagues have explored the consequences of the second assumptlon through sensltlvlty analyses on a generallzed biomass profile. The errors were shown to be functlons of the parameters of biomass profile, the photosynthetlc parameters and the optlcal propertles of the water. The probable random errors In the estlmatlon of water-col~~n prlmary productlon uslng remotely sensed data were estlmated to be of the order of 100~, but lf the typlcal structure of the vertlcal profile Is known, much of thls error can be removed. - 2 -

The control of prlmary productlon by the supply of nutrlents, especlally the control of "new" productlon by the supply of nltrate, has been a subject of contlnuing study. Ceorge's Bank, whlch lles between Cape Cod and Nova Scotla, has a water column whlch ls tldally m1xed from top to bottom at all tlmes of year. There 1s a level of pr1mary productlon based on recyeled nltrogen, but the productlon removed by man must be balanced by productlon based on new nltrogen Introduced as nltrate from the deeper water surround1ng the bank. In summer t1me, the water surroundlng the bank becomes thermally stratlfled and a front develops at the edge of the bank. Rect1f1cat10n of t1dal currents over the sldes of the bank leads to a perslstent clockw1se current round Its per1meter, but thls ls not a closed gyre and there ls slgnlf1cant exchange of water mass through the front. The results of an experlment conducted 1n July-August 1985 show that the flux of nltrate-N across the front was about l2 mg at Nm-'s-'. Us1ng a ,sN techn1que. 1t was est1mated that the nutr1ent demand of the phytoplankton 1n the well-m1xed area was 2.5 mg at Nm-'s-I whlle that of the phytoplankton 1n the frontal area was 2.9 mg at Nm-Is- I , so the flux across the front was more than enough to meet thls demand. One of the most valuable commerclal stocks on the bank 1s the scallop, • Placopecten magellanlcus. The area of h1ghest stock dens1ty rough1y c01ne1des w1th the frontal zone, wh1ch In turn 1s characterlzed by a partlcularly hlgh rate of pr1mary productlon per unlt area. A calculat10n of the scallop nltrogen budget reveals that the est1mated supply of new n1trogen to the Bank by cross-frontal transport of n1trate 1s much 1n excess of the requ1rements of the scallops. assumlng ut111zat10n of phytoplankton w1th a lOJ growth eff1c1ency. There also appears to be an adequate supply of new n1trogen to account for the requ1rements of the pe1aglc and demersal f1sh on the bank.

It 1s, therefore. pereeived that the cross-frontal transfer of n1trate onto Ceorge's Bank 1s a key process 1n ma1ntalnlng the product1v1ty of commerc1al stocks. Plans for future work 1nc1ude deta11ed 1nvest1gat10n of the phys1cal mechan1sms 1nvolved. and study of the extent to wh1ch the measurements made 1n 1985 are representat1ve of all s1des of the bank. Dur1ng the summer of 1987, the upwel11ng of new n1trogen was also stud1ed at the slte of the New England and Corner Sea Mount cha1ns. A cru1se. code-named PLASMA (Productlon Located at Sea Mounts 1n the Atlant1c). was executed to study the hypothes1s that the reglons of h1gh chlorophyll shown by CZCS 1mages 1n the reglon of sea mounts were caused by the upwell1ng of new nltrogen as a resu1t of turbulence generated 1n the wake of the sea mounts. The results are not yet ava1lable. Benthlc Studles

In conneet10n w1th the Ceorge's Bank stud1es ment10ned earl1er, laboratory ~ stud1es are 1n progress on the ass1m1lation efficlency and growth eff1cIeney of ~ scallops when fed f1ve dlfferent dlets. In part1cular. phytoplankton d1ets are belng compared wlth d1ets of var10us k1nds of detr1tus, 1nclud1ng seaweed detrltus. Studles on the flux of organ1e matter from the phot1e zone to the benthos have concentrated on the role of vertlcally mlgrat1ng organlsms. The eonvent10nal approach to quantlfylng thls flux through sequentlal-sampl1ng 1n depth and t1me has ser10us llm1tat10ns. due to problems wlth hor1zontal patch1ness of the - 3 -

zooplankton and asynchronous migrations of different components. As an alternative to thls approach, a passlve collector has been developed whlch successfully Intercepts upwardly-mlgratlng organlsms. Initlal results In coastal envlronments Indlcate that durlng the summer perlad of stratlfled water columns, the flux of vertlcally-mlgratlng organlsms (expressed as carbon) greatly exceeds the downward flux of settllng detrltus. Durlng early sprlng, before strang water column stratlflcatlon, the flux of carbon caused by slnklng dlatom blooms ls In excess of the food requlrements of the benthos.

In many benthlc areas, there ls very 11ttle settlement of detrltus dlrectly to the bottom because of the strength of tldal currents. (Slmpson 1981 sald that, In terms of stress, benthlc comrnunities are exposed to the equivalent of hurrlcane-force wlnds twlce a day). Studles have, therefore, been made of the effect of water movement on processes at the sediment-water Interface, uslng a speclally-constructed flume. It has been found that wlthln the euphotlc zone, the eplbenthlc dlatom populatlon, together wlth bacterla, forms a fl1m that blnds sedlments and Inhiblts partlcle resuspenslon, thus reduclng the loss of organic carbon from the community. A polarographlc oxygen mlcro-electrode has been used to study the effect of current speed on the decomposltlon of burled organlc matter. In deeper areas of strang tldal currents, the blomass and productlvlty of the benthos 15 lower than In nearby areas wlth less strong tldal currents. For example, macrofaunal productlon has been estlmated for Brown's Bank, a tldally-mlxed area on the Scotlan Shelf. It amounted to 67g wet wt. m-'y-I, compared wlth 193 g wet wt. m-'y-' In tldally less energetlc parts of the Bay of Fundy. The sediments were of slml1ar geologlcal ages and had the same numbers of specles of polychaetes and amphipods. In splte of thls, Brown's Bank 15 a favoured feedlng ground for early juvenl1e haddock, whlch remave about 12S of the annual productlon, same 509 tons wet blomass per year, conslstlng malnly of Infauna. It ls thought that the tldal currents cause resuspenslon of Infaunal organlsms, and while these are drlftlng above the bottam, they are consumed by the juvenIle haddock.

There ls need for data on the transfer of food from the benthos to bottom-feedlng flsh over a large area. The prevlously-mentloned data base on blomass of benthlc organlsms on Brown's Bank and In the Bay of Fundy ls belng extended to include other parts of the Scotlan Shelf (e.g. Banquereau Bank), the Grand Banks and the Labrador Sea. Up to thls tlme, productlon has been calculated from blomass data uslng prevlously publlshed P:B ratlos. However, new allometrlc models for estlmatlng rate of productlon from slze-speclflc blomass data are belng developed. Recrultment-Related Studles The Gulf Stream flows In a meanderlng northward path, rougnly parallel wlth the contlnental shelf of North Amerlca, between the Grand Banks and the MId-Atlantlc Blght. Warm core rIngs are generated from the meanders, and If they come Into contact wlth the contlnental shelf, they entraln large volumes of shelf water and transport It offshore. It seemed possible that If those large volumes of water contalned slgnlflcant numbers of eggs, larvae or juvenl1e flsh, thls mlght have a negatlve effect on recruitment to the flsh stocks of the continental shelf. •

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In arecent study conducted jointly with the Newfoundland Region, the slope water adjacent to the shelf was divided into nine regions that corresponded as closely as possible to the limits of 25 stocks of fish and shellfish. Weekly satellite images covering 1973 to 1986 were used to recognize the number and position of warm core rings, from which an entrainment index was developed for each region. When combined with information on the timing of spawning and duration of egg and larval stages of each stock, it was possible to estimate the impact of warm core rings on each stock. Recruitment in 15 of the 17 groundfish stocks examined was negatively correlated with warm core ring activity. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between ring activity and recruitment to pelagic stocks. It was suggested that the data on recruitment of pelagics is less reliable than for groundfish, and that some pelagics may spawn sufficiently far enough from the edge of the shelf that they escape the impact of the warm core rings.

An intensive study of the early life history of cod and haddock of SW Nova • Scotia has been in progress for a number of years. Results now available indicate that: (i) the condition of larval haddock is largely determined by the intensity of stratification of the water column, which appears to act through food availability (a result analogaus to that obtained by Lasker tor larval anchovy in the California current). (ii) interannual variation in the distribution patterns ot haddock eggs and larvae can be explained by the action of temperature on the development rate; (iii) the principal drift track of cod 'and haddock larvae tollows an isobath which appears to coincide with a tidal front; and (iv) the principal spawning centres for cod and haddock larvae are offshore, but pelagic juvenile cod are frequently found close inshore oft SW Nova Scotia, while haddock remain turther oftshore.

The otolith mlcrostructure technique Of agelng is being applied to the larvae of cod and haddock spawned on or near Brown's Bank, oft SW Nova Scotia. By plotting the spatial distribution of larvae of known ages (in days), it is hoped to establish their pattern of dispersal and dritt between the spawning grounds and the nursery areas. By tollowing the abundance of a particular cohort, it is hoped to establish whether or not cohort strength is primarily determined in the first year of life. By followlng the growth rate ot an identified cohort in each of tive years, it is hoped to test the hypothesis that year-class strength is a tunetion of growth rate in the larval and juvenile stages.

Studies of the annual maturation cycle of herring reveals that the older individuals attaln spawning conditlon before the younger. It has been demonstrated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (as In Norway) that pulses, or waves of spawnlng actlvity, correspond with the arrival on the spawning ground of the various major age classes within the population. This is true tor both the spring and autumn spawners. Surveys of the spawning beds show that the e relative egg abundance of spawning waves was weIl correlated with the relative size of each year class.

This year, significant quantities of herring larvae and spawning adults were found on George's Bank. It appears that this stock may be on the way to regalning its once important position. In the Bay of Fundy, a "patch" study involving three vessels investlgated the relationship of abundance and vertical migrations Of herring larvae with oceanographic condltlons and the presence of food organisms and predators. - 5 -

A cooperative Canada/U.S. study Involving three vessels, includlng a submerslble, investigated the ecology of Juvenile gadoids on Ceorge's Bank. An intensive multidisciplinary study of the relationship of larval and juvenile fish to the Ceorge's Bank front is planned to begin in 1988. Since Ceorge's Bank is a candidate for possible hydrocarbon development, information is needed on all aspects of the ecology of commercially important species. Not least of these are the scallops, and for the past two years there has been considerable effort to understand the distribution and fate of scallop larvae. Horizontal distribution of the larvae has been studied by vertically integrated hauls at stations approximately 10 nautical mlles apart. Attempts are belng made to understand the movement of the larvae In terms of the residual circulation on and around the bank. Vertical distribution Is a very obvious function of physlcal structure of the water column, wlth the larvae aggregated at the pycnocline in stratified waters. but dispersed through the upper 50 m In weakly stratlfied or tidally mixed waters.

Results are now available from a number of years' work on the recruitment • pattern of lobsters off SW Nova Scotia. Canada inltiated an offshore (>50 n mi.) lobster fishery in 1971. and there has been concern whether the offshore stocks might provide a slgnlficant proportion of the recrults to the inshore stocks, and should therefore be sUbject to special protection. Calculations based on the occurrence of stage I and stage IV larvae in the plankton and the physical oceanography of the region suggest that 92-97~ of the larval recruitment occurs offshore. Calculations based on the numbers of berried females In the stocks suggest 80~ of larval recruitment occurs offshore. Work will continue in the hope of improving the confidence limits on these estlmates. Consideration of the vertical migration patterns of the larvae and of the residual currents suggest that the Culf of Maine. to the south of Nova Scotla, is one recruitment area. In particular, it seems likely that offshore recruitment makes an important contribution to inshore stocks in the eastern Culf of Malne.

References

Simpson, J.H. 1981. The shelf-sea fronts: implications of thelr exlstence and behaviour. Phll. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. A302: 431-542. Platt, T. 1986. Primary production of the ocean water column as a function of surface light intenslty: algorlthms for remote sensing. Deep-Sea Res. 33: 149-163.

Institut Maurice Lamontagne, 850 route de la Mer Case postale 1000, Mont-Joli (Quebec). Canada G5H 3z4 (J.-C. Therriault, Head, Biological Oceanography Division) En 1987, la Division d'Oceanographle Blologique a contlnue ses recherches visant ~ etudier les processus de production primaire et secondalre dans les eaux marines de l'estualre et du golfe du Salnt-Laurent alnsi que dans celles des bales d'Hudson et de Froblsher. Cette derni~re annee a egalement ete marquee par l'lntensification des travaux de recherche visant ~ reller cette production avec les processus de recrutement de larves de certaines esp~ces de poissons co~~erc1aux. - 6 -

Bacterloplancton Les etudes sur la repartition et les processus de contrßle de l'abondance des bacterles dans l'estualre du Salnt-Laurent se sont poursulvles en 1987. Ces etudes vlsent A developper un mod~le general de la dynamlque des bacterles applicable A la plupart des mllteux estuarlens. Au cours de la dernl~re annee, des experlences ont ete effectuees pour etudler partlcull~rement la survle et la crolssance des bacterles de part et d'autre de la transition saline de l'estualre du Salnt-Laurent. Cette information est importante putsque le sort des bacterles dans cet ecosyst~me revet un Interet partlculler en raison de la grande quantite d'eaux usees qul y est reJetee. D'autre part, les etudes des mlcroheterotrophes, prlnclpalement les bacterles, dans la colonne d'eau et la glace de la bate de Froblsher se sont poursutvtes acttvement. Des mesures de carbone partlculalre et dissous ont ete effectuees alnsl que des mesures de biomasse, d'acttvlte et de productlon • bacterlenne. Des methodes de ftltratlon selectlve et d'utilisation d'lnhlblteurs metabollques ont ete utilisees pour separer les diverses actlvttes mlcroheterotrophes. L'exlstence de mlcroconsommateurs de bacterles a ete demontree et des mesures Indlrectes de leur actlvlte ont ete effectuees. Ces etudes sont reallsees dans le but de reller la productlon primaIre et la productlon bacterlenne dans les mllteux arctlques.

Par atlleurs, les preml~res mesures de biomasse et productlon bactertennes ont ete effectuees dans le golfe du Satnt-Laurent au cours de l'ete 1987. Phytoplancton Les etudes entreprises pour vertfter 1'exlstence d'un mecanlsme de photoadaptatton rapide (ft sun glass effectft chez les populations phytoplanctonlques estuartennes se sont poursulvles avec succ~s en 1987. Ces recherehes tentent de demontrer 1) que ce mecanlsme ne se retrouve que chez les esp~ces incapables de contrßler leur regime 1umlneux, 2) que le temps de reponse des cellules aux changements des condlttons lumlneuses est un facteur important pour la successlon des esp~ces et 3) que des variations endog~nes cycllques de la reponse phytoplanctonlque sont presentes et se produlsent en phase avec les stimuli dominants du mtlleu. L'analyse des resultats obtenus au cours d'experlences en laboratolre et sur le terrain se poursulvra en 1988. Deux missions oceanographlques ont ete effectuees pour etudler la dynamlque des elements nutrltlfs et la productlon primaire dans une region frontale et dans une zone d'upwelling du Salnt-Laurent. Diverses varla~les blologlques teIles que l'asslmllatton des sels nutrltlfs, les concentrattons de chlorophylle, POC, PO~, proteines, etc., ont ete mesurees. 11 est de plus en plus reconnu que les zones frontales et les zones de remontees d'eaux profondes dans les milleux cötlers constttuent des alres d'allmentatlon privileglees pour plusleurs esp~ces de larves de polsson. Co~~e l'allmentatton de ces larves repose essentlellement sur la productlon phytoplanctonlque, la comprehenston de la dynamtque de 1a productton primaire dans ces regions est Indispensable A la connalssance globale des processus reglssant 1e transfert d'energle vers les mallions superleurs de la chalne trophlque. L'analyse des resultats obtenus se poursutvra au cours de la prochalne annee. - 7 -

Les etudes sur la production biologiQue dans la colonne d'eau et les glaces de la bale d'Hudson en etaient ~ leur phase d'analyse des echantillons et au traitement des donnees en 1987. Plusleurs manuscrlts sont actuellement en cours de redaction. Ces recherches vlsent 1) ~ estimer les eChanges entre les differentes composantes des interfaces glace/eau/sedlments, 2) ~ comprendre l'impact de ces echanges sur l'ecosyst~me, avant et apr~s la fonte des glaces, 3) ~ comprendre les adaptations physiologiQues des organlsmes Qui vlvent dans ces milleux, sous des conditions extremes de temperature et de l~~i~re ~ l'interface glace/eau; et finalement, 4) ~ evaluer l'influence des changements dans la circulatlon c5ti~re et de la stratification sur les phenom~nes mentionnes. En 1988, il est prevu d'entreprendre dans 1a baie d'Hudson un nouveau projet portant sur la production biologiQue dans le gradient de salinlte forme par la plume d'eau douce de la rivl~re Crande-Baleine. Nous tenterons egalement de mettre en relation 1a production biologiQue des alg~es de glace avec le recrutement d'esp~ces de polssons anadromes. Ce projet impllQue la collaboration de nombreux chercheurs gouvernementaux et universltaires, ainsi Qu'une equipe importante composee d'etudiants gradues, de techniciens et de plongeurs sous-marlns. Le travall de terrain devrait • s'effectuer au prlntemps 1988. D'autres etudes sur 1es microalgues de glace et le phytoplancton ont ete reallsees dans la bale de Frobisher par les chercheurs de la station arctiQue de Salnte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Ces etudes visent ~ examiner la composltlon specifiQue, la distribution, la biomasse et le taux de productlon du phytoplancton et des algues de glace ~ differentes periodes de l'annee dans cette region arctlque. Des etudes sur l'influence de la l~~l~re et de la temperature sur la productlon relative de lipides, proteines et hydrates de carbone par la flore planctonlQue et celle de glace ont ega1ement ete effectuees. L'annee 1988 marQuera cependant la derni~re annee pour les travaux de recherche ~ la bale de Froblsher. Par ailleurs, il est prevu au cours de 1988, l'installation d'une nouvelle station de recherche ~ Salluit dans le detrolt d'Hudson. Un projet sur l'ecologle et la dynamique de population de l'algue Protogonyaulax tamarensls, le dlnoflagelle marin responsable de l'empolsonnement toxiQue paralysant des mollusques dans l'estualre du Saint-Laurent, s'est poursuivit actlvement en 1987. Des cultures de cette algue ont ete realisees pour analyser les variations de leur toxiclte. Par ailleurs, l'echantillonnage en vue d'etudler la repartition des cystes de Protogonyaulax dans l'Estuaire et determlner leur rele dans le processus de d6clenchement des "blooms" s'est poursuivi au cours de 1987. Un des objectifs de cette etude vlse ~ developper et mettre en appllcation une methode de remplacement ("HPLC" et "Autonalyser") pour la methode conventionnelle des bioessais sur des sourls pour la determination de la toxlclte des mOllusQues. En 1988, les etudes sur les algues toxlques dans le golfe du Salnt-Laurent seront intensifiees en raison d'une demande accrue par l'lndustrle aqulco1e. Zoop1ancton/ichthyoplancton En 1987, le groupe de recherche sur le zooplancton et l'lcthyoplancton s'est enrichi de deux nouveaux membres et les recherehes se sont concentrees prlnclpalement sur les ecosyst~mes marlns de l'estualre et du golfe du Salnt-Laurent et du detrolt d'Hudson dans 1e nord du Quebec. - 8 -

L'etude sur l'ecophystologie des larves de maquereau s'est concentree en 1987 sur des mesures prectses de coOts respiratotres et de besoins nutritifs et les valeurs obtenues doi vent etre ut11 isees dans un modele mathem~tique visant 1l. estimer l'importance relattve de la crotssance, des besoins metaboliques et de la mortaltte due 1l. la predation, en tenant compte des migrations verticales et des cycles de nutrition. Par a1l1eurs, des observations effectuEles sur la microstructure tegumentaire des larves de poissons transparentes ont revele l'existence d'une serie de mlcro-couches dont l'epaisseur pourralt etre predictlble 1l. partir de consideratlons theorlques sur la reduction des reflets. Une consequence de cette reductton des reflets est une vlsibl1ite moindre pour 1es predateurs. Un projet pour etudier le lien trophique possible entre la variabtllte de la production primaire et le succes dans le recrutement de larves de sebaste a debute dans le golfe du Saint-Laurent. Comme le copepode planctonique, Calanus finmarchicus, domlne amplement les captures au filet 1l. zooplancton dans • lea eaux profondea du Golfe, on peut supposer que ses oeufs et ses stades nauplii sont susceptibles de constttuer les proies prlncipales des stades larvaires de sebaste, COmme l'ont demontre des travaux anterieurs dans l'Atlantique nord. Une mission majeure est planifiee pour l'ete 1988, pour etudier la distribution verticale et le comportement de nutrition des larves de sebaste en relation avec la distribution verticale et la production d'oeufs de Calanu~. En meme temps, on etudlera en laboratoire la relation entre le taux de production d'oeufs de Calanus et la concentration de phytoplancton, pour tester I' hypothese que le "timing" et l'importance de la production d' oeufs de Calanus est particulierement sensible, par rapport 1l. d'autres especes de copepodes, aux variations Interannuelles de la productton primaire. Si la survie des larves de sebaste est determlnee, du moins en partie, par la disponibilite de proies, alors, l'interaction Calanus-sebaste pourrait etre un exemple specifique d' un lien trophique tres fo~

Une autre etude sur la repartition spatlaie et temporelle du zooplancton en relation avec le regime physique dans l'estuaire du Salnt-Laurent s'est egalement continuee. Les resultats des analyses de zooplancton echantillonnees sur ~~e grille de stations dans l'Estuaire Maritime sont actuellement en analyse pour tester l'hypothese que les caracteristlques de temperature et de clrculatton 11mitent les taux de crolssance In sltu des especes zooplanctonlques lmportantes. La grande parUedela productlvite zooplanctonique estlvale dans l'Estuaire Maritime est probablement exportee vers le Golfe; les populations de gros organismes zooplanctoniques qui constituent la plus grande partie de la biomasse dans l'estualre maritime pourralt etre derlvee prlnclpalement de l'lmportation d'indivtdus provenant des populations du Golfe avec le flux des eaux profondes dans le chenal . laurentien.

O'autres etudes dans les eaux nordiques du Quebec se sont egalement poursuivies en 1987. 11 a ete observe dans la baie d'Hudson que les copepodes calanoides planctoniQues broutalent de fa90n routlnlere la nult sur les mlcroalgues croissant 11 l'interface glace/eau. Des etudes experimentales sont actuellement en cours pour determiner l'effet de ce broutage sur la communaute zoopolanctonlque sUbarcttque. Ce broutage se prodult avant le bloom prlntanier dans la colonne d'eau. La productton d'oeufs et de naupl11, proies presumees des larves de morue arctlque, lan90ns et pols50ns anadroomes Qul sont presents sous la glace dans 1a bate d'Hudson avant 1e b100m prlntanier, pourrait etre acceleree par 1a nutrition sur les microalgues de glace. - 9 -

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Btological Sctences Branch, P.O. Box 5667, St. John's, Newfoundland. AlC 5Xl (L.W. Coady, A/Reglonal Dlrector, Science)

As part of the work of the Task Group on the Newfo~~dland lnshore Flshery, there was a review of the tnfluence of a number of the environmental factors on the distribution and avallability of northern cod. Several hypotheses were consldered, and the report of the Task Group contains several recommendations for further research.

An analysis of the effects of temperature and depth on the distribution of American plaice was conducted, and the results presented as a NAFO Research Docurnent. The analyses indicated that the anomalously cold water on the Grand Banks in the mld 1983's may have affected the distribution of flatfish substa~tially.

Analysis of the distribution of juvenile yellowtail flounder in relation to environrnental factors, bottom sediments, and competitors is underway. Preliminary results were presented at a meeting of NAFO. A paper on diel • variability in juve~ile and adult yellowtail was prepared for primary publication.

The series of seasonal surveys for groundfish were completed in 1987. Analyses of seasonal variation in distribution and abundance will continue, with manuscripts expected on several taxa. Environmental correlates of the seasonal patterns will be considered.

The data based stock-recruitment projection methods developed by Rice and Evans were expanded to enable quantlflcatlon of the effeet of environmental influences on the probability distribution of recruitment. This work was presented at CAFSAC and NAFO and is submitted for primary pUblieation. The authors will be exploring application of the same method to estimation of the probability distribution of abundance as a function of habitat and environmental features. A Working Group on Cod-Capelin lnteraetlons held several meetings and sponsored a major workshop. Three major analysis projects were identlfied for work during the coming year: quantifying offshore distribution prior to migration; identifying the scale of spatial and temporal variation in inshore catches; and modelling of possible migration mechanisms. A technieal report on factors influencing inshore eatches of eod in Coneeptlon Bay was revised from a eonsulting company study and the revised report was published. The report noted substantial local detail in pattern of catches around the Bay, and a major effect of a surge of Labrador Current water in August on inshore catches of cod.

Laboratory mesocosm experiments on the role of food supply, temperature, and predation in larval fish dynamics continued. Most work centered on development of culture facilities to support larger experimental programs in coming years.

öork on eombinlng records of historie environmental variation wlth models of plankton suceession led to a primary manuseript. lncludlng real amounts of environmental variation wlth plankton dynamlcs produces systems with extremely low predietabllity. •

- 10 - • A research team has been ldentlfled to document changes in flsh dlstrlbutlon and communlty structure that have taken place on the fishing banks of Newfoundland and Labrador, and analyze these changes in light of fishery and ocean cllmate effects in an attempt to gain inslghts lnto the processes involved. The group will avail of the extensive research vessel data base that has accrued since 1946. The first focus of the group will be quantlficatlon of variation in blomass of size categories, rather than by species, from the data. A model of seasonal plankton succession has been published. The internatlonal Global Ocean Flux Study Group will be using the model as a basis for its modelling work on global ocean cycles and exchanges. A study of the relationship of sea-surface temperature and distribution of Atlantic salmon while at sea was completed, and is to be published in a symposium volume.

A study of the impact of shelf water entrainment by warm core rings on recruit~ent to various marine stocks was prepared for publication. The entrainment may be a significant factor in recruitment dynamics for many stocks. This study is expanding to look at other environmental indlces, such • as Ekman transport, and their relationshlp to recruitment variation. Further work on the position of the warm core rings and the shelf-slope front will also be done.

Research continues on environmental effects on herring stocks. Current focus is on influences on growth rates, and consequences of variation in growth rate relative to crossovers of spawning times.

A joint project with scientists at BIO and McGill University is examining relationships between horizontal and vertical distributions of capelin larvae and larval survival on the Southeast Shoal of the Grand Bank. rnfluences of oceanographic and meteorological events are also included in the study. Research on how biology of snow crabs is affected by water temperature and food habits of competitors (particularly Hyas crabs) continues, in conjunction with sclentlsts at Memorial University. Unaerwater photography is being used to determine the role of bottom type in these and other aspects of crab biology. Size at maturation continues to be an important focus of research interest. The pattern and importance of predation by cod on shrimp populatlon dynamlcs is being studied. Cod predation appears to be a major source of mortality. Environmental influences on growth rates are being looked at as part of this project. .

Processing of specimens and data from the first year-of-life study in ~uantification e Conception Bay was pursued actively. of the lchthyoplankton sa~ples. and gut contents of fish larvae. sh~uld be corr.pleted in the near future. Analyses will focus on feeding selectivlty, potential competitlon, and seasonal variation 1n larval f1sh ecology.

Statistical analysis of flsh larvae and ocean~graphlc data from Flenlsh Cap continues. Two Ph.D. theses are underway from this data base - one focusing on magnitude and causes of variation in growth rates of redflsh larvaeö the other ------

- 11 - on the mechanlsms and effects of physlcal transport on larval abundance. Work on prlmary productlvlty, nutrient and chlorophyll concentratlons and oceanography of Flemlsh Cap Is nearlng puollcatlon stage.

A study of vertlcal and dlel variations In flsh larvae In Trlnlty Bay Is In the data analysis stage. Over 90S of larvae are wlthln 50 m of the surface throughout the day, concentratlng in the upper 5 m durlng darkness. An analysis of gear avoldance (especlally slze dependent processes) Is belng done in conj unctlon with this work. The research station has added three sclentlfic staff with interests in benthlc and microbenthlc ecology. As their research programs develop, there will be a noteworthy increase In the understandlng of the role of benthos in the ecology of the Grand Banks, and of the mechanisms of benthlc-pelagic coupllng. An accelerated research program on parasltes of cod Is examlnlng a number of possible ecologlcal interactions among cod as predators and their various prey. Sea temperature effects on parasite egg development, and consequences for cod infection rates, Is also under study. Concern about uncharacterlstic distribution patterns for many commerclally important flsh stocks had led to a surge of Interest in the physical oceanography of the Grand Banks, and its biologlcal consequences. Understandlng of the dynamlcs and kinematlcs of the Labrador Current and the Cold Intermediate Layer has Increased slgnlflcantly In the past two years. Several research projects are underway to link thls enhanced knowledge of the physlcal oceanography with migration of cod, distribution of flatflsh, recruitment of several stocks, and trophic Interactions of major predators and prey.

Gulf Region, Bl010glcal Sclences Branch, P.O. Box 5030, Moncton, New Brunswlck, EIC 9B6 (J.S. Campbell, Chief, Marine and Anadromous Flsh Division) Juvenile Herring Surveys

In 1987, preliminary acoustic surveys of juvenile herring were conducted in Chaleur Bay, New Brunswick, and Cardigan Bay, Prince Edward Island. The objective of these surveys was to determlne If the aggregations were dlscrete and useful as indices for recruitment. Sea Age of Atlantlc Salmen A recently completed histologlcal study of salmon smolts Indlcated that ovarlan development was inversely correlated with sea age. This study Is being continued in laboratory uslng the offspring of known parentage. Herring Spawning Bed Surveys

Spawnlng bed surveys of Atlantlc herring (Clupea harengus) In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T) were continued In the fall of 1937. The searCh for the spawning beds began August 23, 1937, after cenfirmatlon from lecal fiShermen of the arrival of herring scheols. As In 1986, the search for - 12 - herring spawn was carrled out using an underwater vldeo camera, and sampies were taken by scuba dlvlng. Three spawning beds were 10cated between August 28 and September 3, 1987. On September 9, a cloud of milky water resultlng from a large milt patch hindered the observatlon of the sea bottom by the vldeo camera. A spawnlng school was observed and spawning occurred on filamentous algae. Mapping of the spawning bed and dellneation of lts parameter was carrled out between September 11 and 13, 1987. The area of the spawning beds was estimated at 0.2, 0.8, 0.5 and 0.6 km' for the four spawning beds respectively. The total estimated area of 2.1 km' was about twice that in 1986. However, the intensity of egg deposition was less in 1937, ranging from 1.98 X 10' to 2.38 X 10' eggs/m'. The adult spawning biomass was estimated at 17,100 mt compared to 17,000 mt in 1986.

CROUPE INTERUNIVERSITAIRE DE RECHERCES OCEANOGRAPHIQUES DU QUEBEC

Departement de Blologle, Unlverslte Laval, Quebec, CIK 7P4 (A. Cardlnal, Secretaire general)

Processus d'Interface (Hydrodynamlsme et Productlon Planctonlque) en Mllieux Cetiers et Estuarlens)

Les travaux de l'equlpe au cours de la dernl~re annee ont ete centres sur deux regions presentant des caracteristlques physlques et biologiques differentes. La premi~re de ces regions, ob oeuvrent d'autres equlpes du GIROQ, est l'estualre maritime et le golfe dU Salnt-Laurent; du polnt de vue pelaglque, cette reglon constltue une prolongation du plateau continental ob sont amplifles certalns effets lies aux debits d'eau douce et aux marees. Les recherches menees dans ces eaux ~ forte production blologique reJoignent donc celles menees dans d' autres laboratoires de par le monde sur la dynamique des plateaux contlnentaux. Le second volet des travaux de l'equlpe se deroule dans les eaux arctiques des bales de James et d'Hudson, principalement sous couvert de glace. Ces recherches permettent, outre la comprehension des processus physiques et blologiques particul1ers aux mers couvertes de glace, de tester dans des condltlons extremes des hypotheses generales sur l'hydrodynamlsme et la productlon blologlque des oceans. Comme au cours des annees anterieures, une fractlon importante des travaux de l'equlpe a ete realisee en etrolte collaboration avec des chercheurs du Ministere des Peches et des Oceans (Institut Maurlce-La~ontagne, Mont-Joli, Quebec). Estualre et golfe du Salnt-Laurent

Au cours de l'annee 1986-1987, les recherches de nature physique dans l'estuaire et le golfe du Salnt-Laurent ont surtout porte sur la mesure des vagues et leur impact sur les regions cetl~res. De longues serles d' observatlons ont ete enreglstrees au moyen de bouees accelerometriques et des publications ont permls de relier divers processus c8tiers ~ la propagation des vagues. - 13 -

Rejoignant les travaux de nature physique sur les vagues. des recherches d'oceanographie biologique se sont poursuivies sur l'influence que peuvent avoir sur la photosynth~se du phytoplancton les variations rapides de lumi~re causees par la propagation des vagues h la surface de la mer; il semble que ces variations de haute frequence (0.1 - 10Hz) puissent modifier de fa90n significative la photosynthese du phytoplancton et que leur absence des regions couvertes de glace entratne des reponses photosynthetiques differentes chez les algues des glaces. Depuis quelques annees. l'equipe travaille aussi sur les reponses du phytoplancton aux stimuli lumineux cycliques, de 24 h (circadiens) et de 12.4 h (marees semi-diurnes). une etude menee en collaboration avec des chercheurs du Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (West Boothbay Harbor. Maine) a confirme le phenom~ne pour du phytoplancton preleve dans le golfe du Maine. Par ailleurs. on a etabli le r~le joue par la structure physique de la colonne d'eau dans la repartition verticale de la biomasse et de la production phytoplanctonique. D'autres contributions theoriques de l'equipe h l'oceanographie biologique ont porte sur le melange de maree, les ergoclines marines ainsi que l'analyse numerique des donnees oceanographiques. Toujours dans les eaux ouvertes, d'autres travaux de l'equipe ont porte sur les processus hydrodyna~iques soustendant les relations trophiques entre les larves de poissons. leurs predateurs et leurs proies. Ces relations trophiques ont d'abord ete examinees dans une region c6ti~re non-stratifiee en Manche occidentale ou l'importance de l'hydrodynamisme etait minimale. Les resultats montrent que lorsque les processus hydrodynamiques n'influencent pas la co-distribution des larves. de leurs proies et de leurs predateurs. la theorie de la Qu~te Optimale (Optimal Foraging) et en particulier le mod~le de la Distribution Ideale Libre (Ideal Free Distribution) decrivent bien les interactions trophiques. Le modele du IFD servira donc de modele de base pour l'lnterpretation des resultats observes dans les regIons ou les processus hydrodyna~iques sont plus Intenses. Quatre regions de ce type ont ete etudiees par les membres de l'equipe. en collaboration avec les chercheurs de l'Institut Maurice-Lamontagne. au cours de 1936 et 1987. Dans l'estuaire moyen du Saint-Laurent. les recherches portent sur la co-distribution des larves de hareng. de leurs proies et de leurs predateurs dans la zone du front de maree. Les resultats serviront h tester certains aspects de la theorie des stocks de lIes &Sinclair. Dans le sud-ouest du golfe. on etudie la co-distribution spatiale fine de l'ichtyoplancton et du microzooplancton en relation avec la structure physique du milieu (stratification verticale. mosatque de masses d'eau). h des echelles variant de quelques centaines de metres h plusieurs dizaines de kilometres. Dans la region frontale qui separe le courant de Gaspe de la gyre d'Anticostl. les chercheurs de l'equipe et de l'Institut Maurice-Lamontagne etudient les relations entre la production primaire. la production secondaire. la survie et la croissance de l'lchtyoplancton. Finalement, une etude portant sur le transport de stades larvaires de la sole dans le golfe de Gascogne et sur leur distrIbution verticale fIne en rapport avec celle de leurs proies est menee presentement en collaboration avec les chercheurs de l'IFREMER. L'ensemble de ces travaux permettra de cerner comment les processus turbulents h petite et h moyenne echelles peuvent modul er les interactions trophiques entre les larves de poissons, leurs proies et leurs predateurs. A tr~s grande eChelle. ces processus turbulents contrelent egalement l'abondance et la composition specifique des reseaux trophiques planctoniques qu'expioitent les stades larvaires de poissons. En particulier. les debIts d'eau douce et la stratification de la colonne d'eau marine qui en - 14 -

resulte sont responsables des developpements masslfs de dlnoflagelles toxlques au cours de l'ete. Des travaux en laboratolre menes en 86 et en 87 demontrent de fa.on spectaculalre que la toxlne produlte par le dlnoflagelle Protogonyaulax tamarensls entratne une mortailte massIve chez les stades larvalres de capelan et de hareng. Ces travaux qul suggerent que le recrutement chez la plupart des especes marlnes commerclales (polssons et lnvertebres) pulsse ~tre affecte par les developpements de Protogonyaulax tamarensls dans l'estualre et le golfe du Salnt-Laurent, seront poursulvls l'annee prochalne. Bales de James et d'Hudson Une premlere partle des pUbllcatlons de l'equlpe en mll1eux nordlques concerne les effets des amenagements hydroelectrlques sur les processus physlques estuarlens et leurs repercusslons blo1oglques. Une etude a aussl porte sur • l'hydrodynamlsme dans la bale du Rupert (Bale de James). La second volet des travaux de nature physlque concerne l'hydrodynamlsme, sous couvert de glace, dans les panaches d'eau saumatre. En vue de comparer avec les condltlons hlvernales, la reglon du panache de la Grande rivlere de la Balelne fut l'objet d'un echantll10nnage tres detaille ~ la fln de l'ete 1987.

Les condltlons hydrOdynamlques ~ l'lnterface glace-eau (Shlrasawa 1986) ont des repercusslons lmportantes sur la productlon de mlcroalgues et sur le transfert de cette production ~ l'ecosysteme pelaglque. On a notamment etabli que les mlcroalgues des glaces peuvent ~tre llmltees par les nutrlments, dont l'approvislonnement depend alors des processus physlques sous la glace. Les processus physlques ~ l'lnterface glace-eau jouent aussl un rOle lmportant sur le broutage des mlcroalgues par le zooplancton. Ces travaux sur les processus d'interface sont menes plus partlcullerement par les laboratolres de L. Legendre, L. Fortler et Y. Ouellet de l'Unlverslte Laval et de R.G. Ingram de l'Unlverslte McGlll en coilaboration avec de nombreux chercheurs du Mlnistere des P~ches et Oceans du Canada et d'autres lnstitutlons. Le Ml1leu Benthlque Llttoral: Aspects Dynamlques et Fonctlonnels Le developpement de nos programmes de recherche falt sulte aux travaux que nous avons entreprls en 1981 sur les communautes benthlques Ilttorales. Dans une premlere phase nous avons mls l'accent sur la descrlptlon (la structure des communautes Ilttorales). Nous falslons ressortlr l'unlclte de certalnes caracterlstlques des communautes lntertldales et lnfrallttorales du systeme Estualre-Golfe.

Dans une deuxleme etape. nous nous attaqulons ~ certalns mecanlsmes responsables des structures observees et mettions aussi l'accent sur les aspects foncttonnels (production et relations pelagos-benthos).

Sans voulolr resumer tel toutes les retombees de ces etudes, ces travaux montrent: (1) le rOle joue par les facteurs physlques (e.g. le glaclel) et la selectlon des mlcrohabltats sur la dynamlque de la communaute lntertldale; (2) l'lnfluence demesuree qu'exercent les concentratlons de l'oursln Strongylocentrotus sp. sur la structure (abondance, dlverslte) de la communaute .. - 15 -

infrallttorale de l'Estuaire et du Golfe; (3) l'importance relative des facte~s physlques et blotlques sur le developpement de ces communautes en absence d'oursins ou de tout autre consommateur; (4) l'importance des filtreurs comme agents de lialson entre le pelagos et la communaute benthique Ilttorale et leur r31e dans la depletion de la matl~re organique dlsponlble aux organisnes; (5) le r31e joue par les facteurs clinatiques, notamment le vent, sur la dynamique de cette mati~re organique en suspenslon dans le littoral. Ces travaux mettalent egalement en evidence. pour la premi~re fois d'une mani~re aussi precise. les mecanismes responsables de la production des eaux littorales marines et l'influence probable des filtreurs benthiques sur la production de ces eaux. Outre ces travaux d'inter~t ecologlque et theorique, nous completions aussl un ensemble de travaux d'inter~t plus economique, et taxonomique. Ces travaux mettaient surtout l'accent sur l'lnfluence des facteurs physiques et chimiques sur la structure et le fonctionnement des comm~autes. Nos travaux recents mettent nettement l'accent sur l'influence des facteurs biotiques (predation, competition. broutage, comportement) et sur certalns aspects de la biologie des esp~ces. notamment la reproductlon. comme agents de structuration des communautes littorales. Cette orientation demeure une priorite dans nos travaux actuels et futurs. L'espace disponlble dans cette rubrique est trop restreint pour resumer chacun des projects (plus d'une vingtaine) amorces ou m~me dejk completes par les membres de l'equipe sur les facteurs biotiques au cours des derni~res annees. Ceux-ci portent soit sur la co~unaute infralittorale. la microflore ou la macrofaune Intertidale. En ce qui concerne la communaute infralittorale, (1) on a etudie les strategies morphologiques et physiologiques adoptees par 18 esp~ces d'algues benthiques pour limiter le broutage par l'oursin vert. Un article est presentement en preparation sur ce sujet. (2) Une etude a egalement He completee sur les populations du predateur Buccinum undatum et ses relations avec d'autres es~ces benthiques du gol~ on-a-egalement realise une etude comparative de l'influence de la predatlon, notamment par le homard, sur la morphologie et la robustesse de la coquille du Buccin le long des cßtes du gOlfe et de l'Atlantique. (4) On a aussi examine le deplacement du Buccin commun en presence d'appäts. (5) O'autres travaux sur la biologie de la reproductlon des predateurs Ilttoraux (Buccln et l'etolle de mer, (Leptasteris polaris) ont aussi ete completes. (6) On tente actuellement de v~rifier s'il ya competltlon entre deux esp~ces de crabes sympatriques (le crabe tourteau, Cancer irroratus et le crabe araignee. H as araneus) en considerant leur niche potentielle et realisee. On examine le r gime alimentaire. l'habitat et le rythme d'actlvlte des deux crabes sur le terraln et en laboratolre. (1) Par ailleurs, on teste une hypoth~se selon laquelle les etolles de mer les plus frequentes dans l'etage infralittoral (Leptasterias polaris. Asterias vulgaris et Crossater papposus) influenceraient slgnificatlvement la repartItIon et l'abondance d'autres esp~ces benthiques. (8) On a egalement complete une etude visant k determlner la frequence et la repartition spatiale et temporelle des polssons benthiques communs de l'etage infralittoral et leur impact sur la comm~~aute benthlque dans le nord du Golfe Salnt-Laurent. (9) L'hivernage et la predation par l'Zider k duvet sur la communaute infralittorale constitue un autre sujet de recherche. Un objectif de cette etude est d'estimer l'impact de - 16 - ces predateurs sur 1a population d'ourslns verts par l'analyse des bUdgets d'actlvlte et l'lntenslte d'allmentatlon de ces olseaux. Nos travaux sur 1a communaute eplbenthlque intertldale ont progresse conslderablement (10) pour la realisation d'une monographie des Dlatomees marines benthlques de substrats durs. (11) Nous avons aussl examlne la capaclte photosynthetlque de la mlcroflore benthlque disponible aux brouteurs et ses variations en fonctlon de divers param~tres experlmentaux. Nous avons mls en evldence, en morte-eau, une periodlclte clrcadlenne dans la reponse Photosynthetique qul s'expllqueralt par un contrele endog~ne, alors que des variations clreatidales seralent assoelees aux fluetuatlons seml-dlurnes des elements nutritlfs. Une autre serie d'experlences a ete menee, surtout en periode de vive eau (changements des condltions physlques plus spectaculalres: luml~re, hauteur d'eau, temperature, salinite), et a permis de proposer ~~e hypoth~se generale predisant que la produetlvite des mieroalgues benthiques seralt princlpalement sous le contrele exog~ne de la maree en vive-eau, et sous contrele endog~ne en morte-eau, comme mentionne precedemment. (13) Sur le pla~ trophlque, nous avons mene h terme un projet portant sur l'importance du broutage sur la microflore, et les rythmes de cette actlvite, par un gasteropode fort abondant dans l'etage intertidal de l'Estuaire, Llttorlna saxatilis. Eu egard aux facteurs structurant la communaute eplbenthique intertidale, (14) nous avons poursulvi une etude de la dynamique des peuplements lntertidaux (d'abord sur Semlbalanus puis sur l'ensemble de la communaute), dans l'Estuaire et le Golfe, en rapport avec l'heterogeneite (la variation topographique) du substrat h des eehelles variant de 1 cm h 4 m. Nous avons examine l'hypoth~se selon laquelle 1a loealisation precise des larves de eertalns invertebres (e.g. Semlbalanus, l'esp~ce dominante du medlollttoral moyen) dans 1e golfe seralt liee h leur comportement cryptique au moment de la fixation. Ce comportement decou1eralt d'une selectlon differentielle des indlvidus fixes. (15) On a aussi examlne, h l'aide du microseope electronique h balayage, l'influence de 14 variables physiques et biotiques sur le ehoix du alte de fixation de la larve de Semlbalanus h des eehelles variant de 1 m h quelques mlcrorn~tres (16) Par ailleurs, nous avons developpe en mod~le general de fixation applicable aux elrri~des, et aussi ~ d'autres invertebres benthiques. (17) On a entrepris une etude des faeteura suseeptlbles d'influeneer la microrepartltion des Dlatomees (qui elles-memes influeneent 1a fixation des larves), en particulier le broutage par les gasteropodes, et partant la fixation larvaire. On eompare la fixation larvaire dans des sites non broutes, broutes par des gasteropodes en densite normale et en double densite. (18) On a egalement complete une etude de l'inf1uence de la topographie du substrat sur la performance du principal predateur intertidal, Thais lapillus, exer9ant une predation sur sa prole princlpale (Semlbalanus balanoldea). (19) Une etude e1ectrophoretlque par Isofocallsatlon electrlque a ete entreprise sur des balanes (adultes et juveniles) provenant des deux mlcrohabltats (crevasses et surfaces exposees) dans le Golfe et sur la cete atlantique, dans le but de tester: (a) L'existence de dlfferences genetiques entre les populations de S. balanoldes dans les deux regions; (b) de mesurer l'ampleur des variations genetlques entre les crevasaes. Ce travall sur la genetique des populations se poursulvra. (20) A une autre echelle spatlaIe, on eompl~te une etude de l'lnfluence des facteurs hydrocllmatlques sur la structure des communautes eplbefithlques ~ l'echelle de l'Estualre et du Golfe. Ce travail se fonde sur - 17 - plus de 150 ~ 200 sites echantillonnes annuellement dans le Golfe et l'Estuaire depuis 1974. Enfin, (21) on poursuit une etude de la dynamique des populations des gasteropodes lntertidaux et lnfralittoraux (3 especes) dans l'Estualre fluvlal. Outre les fluctuatlons d'abondance des organls~es, ce travall englobe des etudes de competition Intra et lnterspecifique, de predation. de migration et de reproduction.

Ces travaux sur le milieu benthlque sont surtout poursuivls dans les laboratolres de E. Bourget. A. Cardlnal et J.H. Hlmrnelman de l'Unlverslte Laval en collaboratlon avec des chercheurs du MInistere des Peches et Oceans du Canada et de diverses autres Institutions. L'Ecologle des Larves de Polssons

Les objectlfs centraux des travaux sur l'ecologie des larves de polssons sont de deux ordres:

1. faire avancer de fa~on slgniflcative la sclence dans les domaines lies aux facteurs regulateurs de la survle des larves de polssons. la eIe determinante du recrutement des populations exploltees: 2. former de nouveaux scientlflques dans cette disclpllne. La decislon d'orlenter les recherehes sur les facteurs regulateurs de la survle des larves de polssons est motlvee par trols conslderatlons:

1. les peches commerciales et sportives et leurs amenagements sont d'une Importance vitale pour les economles du Quebec et du Canada; 2. des recherehes recentes ont clairement demontre l'importance des Interactions dynamiques entre les elements physlques et blologlques de l'ecosysteme dans la determination de la survle des larves de polssons, un domalne dans lequel nous avons une expertise toute partlcullere due ~ la presence de deux ecologlstes et d'un oceanographe physlclen;

3. 11 exlste une forte demande pour de nouveaux sclentlflques avec une formation speclallsee dans ces domalnes. Les objectlfs speclflques sont: a. d'evaluer des hypotheses rellant l'abondance de la nourrlture et la predatlon ~ la survle des larves de polssons; b. d'examlner les facteurs Influen~ant la duree pre-metamorphose des 1arves de poissons;

Interactions Predateurs/Proies Impllquant les Larves de Polssons Nous avons evalue des hypotheses rellant l'abondance de la nourrlture et 1a predatlon par les meduses ~ 1a survie des larves de poissons. Ces etudes sont motlvees par une vieille hypothese (Hjort 1926) qui demeure non-resolue. Selon cette hypothese, la dlsponlbilite de la nourrlture au debut de la periode d'allmentation exogene (periode critique) est un regulateur majeur de la survie des larves. La premlsse selon laquelle les larves de poissons sont - 18 - prlnelpalement ~ la merel de leur envlronnement (en terme de leur distribution spatlo-temporelle relativement ~ leur nourrlture) a aussl ete evaluee. Des eehantillonnages ~ haute resolution dans deux environnements dlfferents (Golfe du Saint-Laurent; C~tes de Terre-Neuve) ont demontre que les larves ne sont pas passives. glles repondent ~ des slgnaux envlronnementaux snrs pour oecuper preferentlellement eertalns regimes de eourant et masses d'eau. Ceci minimise la eompetitlon Interspeclflque et maxi mise la probabillte de leur assoclation avec des concentratlons predateurs/proles favorables.

Les taux de mortallte ont ete estlmes pour 40 eohortes de larves de capelan. Ces estlmes ont ete eorrlges pour les effets de l'adveetion et de la diffusion et sont les estlmes les plus precis obtenus ~ ce jour In sltu. La mortallte des larves ne fut pas rellee ~ la denslte totale de noürrTtUre ~ laquelle les larves furent exposees horalrement lors de leur derlve. Des experlenees In sltu reallsees dans des enclos ~ grand volume developpes speelflquement pour nos-etudes ont eonflrme ces resultats. Des dlfferenees hautement ~ slgnlfleatlves du taux de erolssanee et de mortallte ont eependant ete obtenues ,.., quand. lors d'experiences en enclos. des larves ~ des stades avances du sac vitellin ont ete exposees ~ des coneentratlons slmllalres du plancton de differentes tailles. La crolssanee et la survle de larves qul se nourrlssalent pour la premiere fOls furent maximales quand la communaute de plancton dans les enclos etalt domlnee par du plancton de 30-80 pm. La negllgence dans les etudes passees de tenlr campte de la taille des proies dans les analyses des relations denslte de proles/mortallte est peut-~tre l'expllcation de l'eehee ~ obtenlr des resultats stables. L'analyse temporelle de la mortallte In sltu de cohorte unlque avant. pendant, et apres la transition du st~ellin au stade exogene Indlque que la mortallte est maximale lors de la transition en deplt de reponses eomportementales qUI maxlmlsent la eoherenee des larves et de leurs proles ~ ce stade. Nous avons aussl examine les effets des interactions dependantes de la denslte sur la survle des larves. La mortallte dependante de la denslte n'a ete deteetee que quand 40 eohortes de larves au debut de leur periode d'allmentatlon exogene ont ete etudlees. Ce resultat est d'une grande portee pUIsque les densltes de larves observees ~ ont varle de ~lO ~ ~3000/m eube.

Ces decouvertes vont ~ l'encontre de plusleurs des premlsses de l'hypothese de Hjort et de ses premiers postulats. Bien que l'hypothese de Hjort ne peut ~tre rejetee, nos deeouvertes indlquent que les Interactions entre les larves de polssons et leurs proles sont beaucoup plus dynamlques que prevues Initialement. et que les variations spatlo-temporelles observees dans la quantlte de nourrlture sont bien moins Importantes pour la survle des larves que nous le soup~onnlons jusqu'~ malntenant. Cette concluslon est tres Importante puisqu'elle Implique une reformulatlon des concepts selon lesquels la variabillte de l'abondanee de la nourrlture est un regulateur ~ primaire de la survle des jeunes larves de poissons. ,..,

Le r~le de la predatlon par les meduses a ete evalue ~ partlr des rapports publies et par des experiences In sltu et des etudes sur le terrain. 11 a ete demontre que des eorrelatlons negatives entre les predateurs et leurs proles abondamment utllisees comme une preuve de predatlon, sont dues ~ des blais d'echantillonnage resultant de l'oecupatlon seleetive de differentes masseS d'eau par les predateurs et leurs proles. Des experlenees In sltu menees dans - 19 -

des enclos ont demontre que le taux de mortalite est independant de la densite de larves et ce, pour un large spectre de densite de larves. La mortalite fut directement proportionnelle ~ la biomasse de predateurs. 11 n'y a eu aucune evidence de satiete des predateurs, contrairement ~ ce que prevoit la theorie actuelle et de recentes observations. L'augmentation du taux de mortalite avec la taille des larves ne va pas cependant ~ l'encontre de recents rapports de fonctions en forme de d3me entre la taille des larves et leur mortalite pour des predateurs de grande taille. Les taux de mortalite augmentent avec la taille des proies. Cette reponse fut inattendue et est incompatible ~ la theorie actuelle. Nous croyons que l'activite larvaire qui augmente avec la taille des larves, peut les rendre plus susceptibles ~ la predation par ces predateurs largement passifs. Les resultats obtenus h ce jour suggerent que le predation par les meduses peut-etre un agent majeur de la mortalite chez les larves de poissons.

Regulation de la Metamorphose chez les Larves de Poissons Durant les trois dernieres annees, nous avons aussi evalue l'hypothese selon laquelle les differences inter-annuelles de la duree de la periode larvaire (moment de la metamorphose) sont aussi importantes que les differences inter-annuelles des taux de mortalite durant cette periode pour determiner la force d'une classe d'~ge chez les poissons. Des experiences realisees avec la plie demontrent que la taille h la metamorphose est beaucoup moins variable que l'~ge h la metamorphose. Des resultats similaires ont ete obtenus avec le capelan. Une revue en profondeur de la litterature tend h supporter ces resultats. Les variations de la duree de la periode larvaire sont donc principalement dues aux variations du taux de crolssance des larves. La temperature et la nourriture affectent la croissance. Pour la plie, un changement de temperature de 3°C peut induire une survie du stade larvaire ~ la metamorphose qui varie par un facteur de 100. Ces travaux se poursuivent.

~ecanismes et Avantages de la Retention Estuarienne des Larves de Poissons Les larves de l'eperlan anadrome (Osmerus mordax) constituent une des composantes principales de 1a communaute iChtyoplanctonique de l'estuaire de Saint-Laurent. Elles sont plus abondantes dans la partie amont de l'estuaire moyen, etant associees aux masses d'eaux chaudes et peu salees. La fraie de l'eperlan a lieu au printemps dans de petltes rivieres localisees sur la rive sud de l'estualre moyen. 11 s'ensuit une dispersion des 1arves h travers toute cette region. Leur distribution correspond alors h celle des particules en suspension. Cemme la partie amont de l'estuaire moyen joue le r31e d'une trappe h sediment, nous emettons l'hypothese que la repartition des larves d'eperlan pourrait etre reliee ~ la retention d'autres organlsmes planctoniques, ce qui permettrait aux larves d'etre concentrees dans une region riche en nourriture (potentielle). Une analyse de la distribution du macrozooplancton et de la matiere en suspension le long d'un transect "amont-aval" dans l'estuaire moyen a demontre que les densltes des taxons dominantes, soit Neomysis americana, Gammarus tigrinus et Osmerus mordax, etalent respectivement de 72, 62 et 232 fois plus grandes dans la partie amont plus turbide du transect que dans la partie avale moins turbide. La proportion des larves avec contenus stomacaux augmentait de 29 h 88J h partir de l'aval vers l'amont du transect. Les larves se nourrissaient alors continuellement _ 20 - dans toute la colonne d'eau (20m) pendant tous les etats de la maree. La retention des larves d'eperlan dans cette region rlche en nourriture seralt le resultat de l'interaction entre la patron de circulation des eaux de la region (ou le temps de remplacement par advection des masses d'eau est maximal) et les migrations verticales semi-diurnes effectuees par les larves rellees aux marees. L'etude de la distribution vertlcale des larves d'eperlan, qul avalent ~~e longueur moyenne de 12,6 mm, ~ une station fixe pendant 98 heures en juln 1986, a revele qu'en moyenne 40% des larves d'eperlan etaient concentrees dans les sept (7) premiers metres de la colonne d'eau (21m). Les larves etaient concentrees plus pres de la surface au flot et plus en profondeur et dispersees dans la colonne d'eau au jusant. On ne notait pas de dlfference dans les patrons de migration verticale pour une gam~e de taille de 4 ~ 25 mm, ce qui laisse supposer que ce comportement debute tres t5t apres l'abandon de la riviere natale. Cependant, les calculs des flux de larves Indlquent que les migrations verticales ne peuvent prevenlr helles seules le transport aval net pendant les deux mois de vie larvalre. La circulation cyclonique caracterisee par de forts courants transversaux contribuerait au transport entre les chenaux en creant alnsi une sorte de gyre. Cela contrlbuerait ~ flnaliser la retention de ces organlsmes. Les larves de poulamon (Microgadus tomcod) sont aussl concentrees dans la zone de turbldlte maximale. On a trouv~ que, pour des lndividus d'une longueur moyenne de 24,09mm, 45% sont concentres dans les sept (7) metres Inferleurs de la colonne d'eau. Contralrement aux larves d'eperlan, le poulamon n'effectueralt pas de migration vertlcale. On observe cependant des variations dans la distribution vertlcale de ces larves qul reveleralent plut5t une repartition verticale suivant un gradient horizontal statlque. Alnsi, les larves sltuees en aval se retrouveralent plus hautes dans la colonne d'eau que celles sltuees plus en amont. Alnsi, les larves proflteralent de la distribution vertlcale des courants residuels net de direction amont pour achever leur retention. Les donnees laissent de plus supposer que les larves des deux especes sont tres sensibles ~ l'advection par les masses d'eau, le deplacement des eaux de cette region du aux marees pouvant attelndre 20 km.

Ces travaux sur l'ecologle des larves de poissons sont surtout menes sous la responsabilite des laboratolres de J.J. Dodson de l'unlverslte Laval et de W.C. Leggett et R.G. Ingram de l'Universlte McGill. La realisation de l'ensemble de tous ces projets n'a ete rendue possible qu'avec la collaboratlon d'une trentalne d'autres chercheurs, asslstants de recherche ou staglalres post-doctoraux des Unlversltes Laval, McGill et de Montreal ou d'autres institutions, de m~me que d'une quarantalne d'etudiants inscrits aux 2e et 3e cycles dans nos differentes institutions. - 21 -

DENMARK (Vagn Hansen) 1.a. University of Copenhagen Institut for sporeplanter (thallophytes) 1.a.1. Plankton, unicellular algae. 1.a.1.1. Taxonomy and ultrastructure of marine nanoplankton, especially prasinophytes (0. Moestrup). 1.a.1.2. Taxonomy, fine structure and ecology of the potentially toxic dinoflagellate GODyaulex ~y~from Denmark and the Faroe !slands (0. Moestrup). 1.a.1.3. Taxonomy and distribution of benthic euglenoids and dino­ flagellates (J. larsen). 1.a.1.4. Marine nanoplankton with particular emphasis on taxonomy, ultrastructure and biogeography (H. Thomsen). 1.a.1.5. Ultrastructure and pigment composition of Gymnodiniun nagasakiense from Australia (J. larsen). 1.a.1.6. Taxonomy of unarmoured dinoflagellates from the Bass Strait, Australia (J. larsen). 1.a.2. Benthic macroalgae. 1.a.2.1. Experimental studies on the e'ffect:of temperature on growth and reproduction in various populations of.the brown alga, Scytosiohon (Aa. Kristiansen and P.M. Pedersen). 1.a.2.2. Culture studies on life history and taxonomy in brown algae from lanzarote and the North American Pacific coast (P.M. Pedersen). 1.b. University of Copenhagen Botanical Museum (Ruth Nielsen) 1.b.1. Culture studies on lifehistory, taxonomy, and distribution of small epi- and endophytic/zooic green algae. 1.c. University of Copenhagen Marine Biological laboratory

1.c.1; Microbial food chains and spatial and temporal patchiness of plankton communities (T. Gissel Nielsen, T. Fenchel, E. Kanneworff). 1.c.2. Pelagic-benthic coupling (E. Kanneworff).

1.c.3. Biology and taxonomy of fish parasites (lr~ato~~ ~eme~a) (M. Kaie). - 22 -

1.c.4. Physiology (respiration, adaption to hypoxia and sulphide and osmoregulation) in marine invertebrates (l. Hagermann, 8. Vismann).

1.c.5. Biology, taxonomy and evolution of marine mollusca (K.W. Ockelmann, V. Brack).

1.c.6. larval and eraly settled stages of marine invertebrates (K. Muus, K.W. Ockelmann). 1.c.7. Culturing of planktonic microalgae (G. M011er Christensen) 1.c.8. Ecology and functional biology of marine protozoa (T. fenchel). - 23 -

2. University of Odense lnetltute Q!. Blo1ogy

2.1. Blochemlstry/Physlo1ogy

2.1.1. Prostaglandins and their slgnlficance in fishes and bivalve molluscs. Currently main emphasis is being given to study arachldonic acid metabolism in Mytllus ~ and trout. (T. Mustafa).

2.1.2. Comparative biochemical and physiological studies of vitellogenesis in various teleosts. (B. Korsgaard).

2.1.3. Transport and turn-over of low molecular compounds in the context of maternal-fetal metabolic relationships in lower vertebrates. (B. Korsgaard).

2.1.4. Hemoglobin of Saualus acanthlas as a'model protein in studies in proton-binding and acid-base balance of the dogfish. (F.B. Jensen).

2.1.5. Blood adaptations to high-speed swimming in the Pacific gamefish, blue marIin (Malkara nlgricans, striped marlin (Tctratcrus anguetlrostrlA) and short-billed spearfish (~audax). (R.E. Weber).

2.1.6. Adaptation in hemoglobin function to deep sea habitats in the teleost Copyphaenoldes acrolepls. (R.E. Weber).

2.1. 7. Blood adaptations to water temperature, salinity and cadmium ooncentration in the hermit crab. Pagurtl6 bernhardus. (R.E. Weber).

2.1.8. Role of blood pigment in H2S and 02 transport in the hydrothermal ventworm Ri!tia. (R.E. Weber).

2.1.9. Measurement of ventilation and gas exchange in the polychaete ~~: Influence of activity level, starvation and tube housing. (E. Kristensen).

2.2. Ecology

2.2.1. Deposit feeding and carbon budget in marine invertebrates. (L.H. Kofoed). - 24 -

2.~.2. Microbial symbiosis in the digestive tract of marine invertebrates. (L.H. Kofoed).

2.2.3. Influence of macrofauna on photosynthesis and mineralization in coastal marine sediments. (F.0. Andersen & E. Kristensen).

2.2.4. The fate of organic carbon and nitrogen in experimental marine sediment systems: Influence of bioturbation and anoxia. (E. Kristensen).

2.2.5. Determination of organic carbon in marine sediments: Comparison of two CHN-analyzer methods. (E. Kristensen & F.0. Andersen).

2.2.6. Measurements of oxygen gradients in the rhizophere of the mangrove AylcepD1a ~ (forsk.) Vierh. (F.0. Andersen & E. Kristensen).

2.2.7. Development of a new and simple method for the separation of detritus into components of different microbial degradabilitY. (E. Kristensen).

2.2.8. Assessment of carbon and nitrogen dynamics in shallow coastal lagoons: The influence of macroinvertebrates and benthic microalgae. (E.' Kristensen).

2.2.9. Preliminary assessment of benthic primary production. oxygen uptake and nitrogen dynamics in a south-east Asian mangrove swamp. (E. Kristensen).

2'.2.10. Investigation of pumping characteristics of I!scidians. (H.U. Rl1sgArd).

2.2.11. Heasurement of pumping rates in six different mussei species from the N.W. Atlantic coast. (H.U. RiisgArd).

3. Tox1co)ogy

3.3.1. Development of computer-assisted physlo1oglcal monitoring systems to investigated sublethai effects of pollutants on circulation and respiration 1n aquatic macroinvertebrates. (M.H. Depledge*).

3.3.2. Modelling and investigation of the mechanisms of metal uptake and transport in crabs. (H.H. Depledge & P. Bjerregaard) .

3.3.3. The impact of tributyl tin on deposit feeting molluscs - 25 -

in Danish Waters. (M.H. Depledge).

3.3.4 Uptake and effects of heavy metals on marine invertebrates. with special emphasis on the effects of selenium on cadmium uptake. (P. Bjerregaard).

3.3.5 Assessment of biomagnification of mercury in marine food chains by measuring uptake. turnover and elimination of organic and inorganic mercury in fish and musseIs. (H.U. RiisgArd).

3.3.6 Effect of cadmium exposure in Arenlco)a ~ on (a) changes in body weight through coelomic fluid losses. (T. Mustafa & P. Bjerregaard). and (b) changes in burrowing ability. ventilation. 02 uptake and CO2 production. (T. Mustafa & E. KriBtensen).

*Newly appointed Professor of Ecotoxicology.

4. Greenland fisheries Research Institute 4.1. Zooplankton

Due to late availability of our ship "ADOLf JENSEN" the institute's summer fieldprogram were somewhat compr~ssed. As a consequence, zooplankton sampling was conducted rather late, medio July to medio August, and concentrated on the occurense of shrimp larvae from Nuuk/Godthab to Nuussuaq (N 7045'). The number of shrimp larvae taken with the Bongo net was very low, presumeably partly due to the advanced time of the year. - 26 -

5. Danish Institute for fisheries and Marine Research, Copenhagen Dept. of fish Ecology

5.1. field and laboratory studies of herring larvae ecology and physiology: Participation in ACE (Autumn Circulation Experiment) a project on herring larvae biology coordinated by DAfS Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen and DIfMER; laboratory studies of digestive processes in herring larvae. 5.2. Coordination and execution of the lCES Primary Production (14C) Intercamparisan Exercise held in Hirtshals and onboard R/V DA NA in June.

5.3. field investigations of the physical and biological processes occuring along the west coast of Denmark (eastern North Seal and the Kattegat.

5.4. Laboratory studies on the migration of Gonyaulax tamarensis through a pycnocline.

5.5. Laboratory studies on the bioenergetics of the copepod Acartia tonsa; establishment of a culture of ~·Calanus fuiiiarch1UCüS.

6. Danish Institute of fisheries and Marine Research, Hirtshals,

6.1. Culture of the copepod Tisbe holothunae.

6.2. Discrimination between fish stocks with the use of mitochondrial DNA technique. - 27 -

~ (J.M. Leppänen)

Finnish Institute of Marine Research

Studies on long-term f1uetuations and population dynamies of phyto- and zooplankton as we11 as maerozoobenthos, started in 1961, were eontinued in the entire Baltie Sea ine1uding the Ba1tic Monitoring Programme of the He1sink1 Commission. studies on the eye1ing of organic matter in the food web of the open Ba1tie were eontinued. The study was direeted on the quantifi­ eation of the main reserves and f1uxes of nitrogen. The studies on the feeding strategies of the Ba1tic herring and to the importanee of ge1atinous predatory zooplankton were eon­ • tinued. Studies on the toxicity of the eyanobaeteria were earried out in the open areas of the Ba1tic Sea.

National Board of Waters, Water Research Office, He1sinki Phytoplankton primary production. chlorophyll a. and phyto­ plankton were measured at coasta1 monitoring stations in both po11uted and unpo11uted areas. At four stations the samp1ing frequency was high. Special investigations were performed off severa1 residentia1 areas. Studies on the influenee of industria1 pollution on the compo­ sition of benthic macrofauna were continued at several 10ca1i­ ties a10ng the coast of Fin1and.

Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of He1sinki

The research carried out at the station inc1udes a broad speet­ rum of studies on brackish water ecology, basic physio10gy of brackish water anima1s, population genetics of Ba1tic mo11uscs, and effects of po11utants on se1eeted coasta1 species. The most extensive project deals with the pe1agic system: phy­ top1ankton/bacteria1 re1ationships, eoup1ing of autotrophy and heterotrophy. and diurnal dynamics of biologica1 interactions. The studies on the different processes are carried out with 10ng-term measurements in the Ba1tic Sea as a background. Nut­ rient cyc1ing is being ana1yzed and eoup1ed with the dynamies of the metabo1ism of the mierobiota. Enclosure experiments are used to eva1uate the effects of variations in biotic and abio­ tic factors on the eommunity metabolism. - 28 -

Husö Bio10g1ca1 Station, Abo Akademi Monitoring studies on 10ng term f1uctuations or charges, at fi­ xed stations in the Aland archipe1ago (natural reference areas for the northern Baltic Seal and pollution control programmes (municipal eff1uents, aquacu1ture in archipe1ago waters, etc.) were continued. The nearshore monitoring was combined with mo­ n1toring of zoobenthos at the open sea in co11aboration w1 th the Finnish Institute of Marine Research. Studies on phytobent­ hos (Fucus vesiculosus comrnun1ty) as indicators of environmen­ tal effects from fish farming were initiated. Ecological field- and laboratory studies on biotic interac­ tions, structuring mechanisms and long term population- and comrnunity dynamics of zoobenthos and fish in shallow softbotoms of the archipelago were continued. These stud1es also covered • colonization strategies and recovery potential of the biota of d1sturbed habitats. Studies on the ecology of rockpools were continued.

Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku The main work included continued monitoring of population dyna­ mies and migration of phyto- and zooplankton in the vicinity of the institute and participation in a larger project on the bio­ logy of the Baltic herring, ego reproduction, feod, migration and distribution of young and adult BaItic herrings in open sea. The Cordylophora-project, dealing with brackish-water co­ 10nial hydroid, which has revealed strong physiological inte­ gration within colonies, also in conditions of nutrient defi­ ciency, was continued. Examples of applied research were the repelling effect of industrial waste-waters on shoals of Baltic herring, man-induced changes in biocenoses by fish-farming and determining the effects of waves and currents caused by ferry traffic. Studies on the aquaculture and the effect of some nut­ rients on the growth of certain green algae species were conti­ nued.

Perämeri Research Station, University of Oulu Studies on the population density of near-bottom fish have been continued in three areas representing different types of expo­ sition and pOllution load. Studies on the population dynamics of benthic macrofauna were continued. An ecosystem research project in the Bay of Liminganlahti was continued. It includes investigations on nutrients, phyto- and zooplankton, benthic flora and fauna as weIl as waterfowl and input of water and organic matter from rivers. - 29 -

~ (P. Lassus &P. Nival)

Nilfutm dJI Za RtlC1Inoc1w lIt dJI Za TtlClrN>k>gü - s.mta1"iat d'Ktat a Za 1itrfo

I ...t it ~ t 1"1'

Phytopta"~to" : CSk% di"0!la3ellis tc~iq~ss !cnt l'oh;st drit~ss ccncs~~"t %es mecan~8mes d'actic~ des tczines et t6 d.terminisme des ftoraisons : Dinopnysis cf. ac~~inata et Gyrodinikm ~r~ot~. En 198? kn mcdete descriptif des variat ions saisoJtnt.el'es ae D·t'10ph~8is 6"1 bäie dB ~·itai". a ete realise et l'a"tago"isms Gyrodi"iumlChastocercs a ete et~ie de !a~c" amie~ comp~e~s 1e detel'~ini.sm. d'appart.t\on dB cette .,pee•• L'effet to~e de cu2t~e8 ae G. aureolum su~ Iss larves ds Pecte" ma~i~s a ete teste. Par ailleurs, des essais as co"tami"atio" s~perims"tats ae a.vs~s coquillagss par ~"e so~che • ne~rotc:rique ds Protcao>rya~la:r tamare'lsis Ol'lt pe"",is d'et~ier Za distrib~tio71 sBlective des go7lya~to="es PS71C;~t l.a phllse de dBC07ltlll'li7latio7l.

Orga7lismss participa"t o~ cotlabo~ant au p~ojet : Station Biclcgiq~e de Rosco!! (Fra7lcs), Laboratoirs CS7ltral drHygi~71s Alime7ltaire (France) , l1>liversitB de Tohoku (SS7Ida~ - ."apOl'l).

Par aills~rs, da7ls ls cadrs ds la s~rveilla7lcs des effets des centratss thermiques nucleaires sur le milieu cötie~ de Za Ma7lche ~71e et~e des variatic7ls saisOl'l7lieres aßS ~7Ids gro~pss phytcpZa7ICto7liquss a ete realisee S7I veilZa7lt ci mie~ detsrmi7lsr la variatiool spatials sur t 'ech~tillo7l7lQge.

Zoopta"cto" : Da7ls le cadre d~ programme 71atio7lal s~~ te determinisme du recrute..e7lt (PNDR) U71 s~ivi annuel de la productio71 dro~fs et larves de soles a ete realise, e71 Mime temps q~e I'Q7IQlyse des parametres hydrologiques, da7lS ls golfe de Gascog71e. Cette et~de a po~r but d'eval~er le röls des facteurs abiotiques (temperature, sali7lite. dS718ite) et biotiques (trophopla7ICto7l) sur Ia di8trib~tion, l'abondance et 1. 8~cces de 10 vi. larvaire. Organismes collabora"t ci cetts et~de : I7Istit~t Ma~rice Lam07ltag7le 'uebec, U71iversite Laval Ciuehec. Le PNDR est destine ci developpep les cO"71aissa"ces SUP les meca"ismes de regutation du fl~% de je~nes ad~Ztes retc~rnant 8~r Z6S lie~% de ui. aes parents a chaq~e generation. Ce programme est mene sn cooperation Gnt~e I'IFREMER et le CNRS. 11 est centre sur quelques especes modeles et quelques sites : 1·) t4 eote : operat i071 C07lce1"7lQ7It la fa~ade Atla7ltiqus. Distributio71 des larves sur le plateau c07ltine7ltal. etude des 71o~rrisseries, etude de t'effet dk jeu7Ie, ageage. migpatio71 des populatio7l8, 2·) t4 coquitte Sai7lt-~acq~es : etude des populations da"8 la baie de Sai7lt-Brieuc. [}i8trib~ticn spatiaLe des Zal'ves, ga"Teto genese, biZa1'f de matiere, distriblAti.o" - 30 -

O des Juvenites J ) Zas AWZuus poZlleJ,;tas (Pecti.,aria kore.,i) : aMZlIse de la distl"ibu.tiora et des mecQn.ismes physiqJ.tes cc"treZaJ1t leB aba"ciaJ1ces cle tarves et de juveniles dans Xa baie de Seine, 4°) W>I eopCpoda pCtagiqva (Acartia tonsa) dan.s l'etan.g de Berre. Le program~e cc~orte Q48Si des etu.des ce m~Ca"~8mes afin de cC"'Prendre Xes regl

Banthos : Un projet de recherche a ete specifiquement develcppe des 1986 et " • ~rsuivi en 1987 en ce qui conCerne Ies proZiferations "I.ales dans cert"ines sones du tittoral franqais. II s 'agit .... particulier des pro(Tl'ClfV'I€S "E4phorbe". "utve" et "Sargasses", le8 dekz premiers visaJ1t a mettre e'l .vidence 1e rete des enricnissemen.tB cötiel's 677. nitl'ates 8k1" les "marees vertes" obeervees, et Ie dernier s'interessant ci I'eztension cctiere d'une espece proliferant de plus .... plus sur Zes parcs cOMhlllicoles.

II convient egalement de mentionner les etudes sur Ze soo et le phytobenthos dans Ie cadre des etudes sur Ies effets des centr"Ies thermiques ....cleaires deJci m....tie""es plus haut. Enfin, en devetcppes : 1 0) Etude de 1'impact des activites hum<2ines ..., (TI'ande profondeuI' (';""'ersion st ....!ouissement de dechets radieactifs, deep-sea mini7lg ...). 2°) Etude de I'ecoshste~e hlldrothe~I et des phe7lOm€nes biologiques Qssocies ak miJ1cratisnr. fco7.d •••ps). PIlJ;siekrB actioPlS a ta Idr O"lt .te 1IleJ1ees au CCz..rB de I'ezercice 1987 : a) Campagne BIOCYAN de plongees du submersible habite CYANA sur ta station permanente de Za Terrasse de Meriadzecl< par 2100 m de profcndeur dans Ie golfe de Gasc0ll"e (NE Atlantique). Ezperime7ltation i., situ sur Ia faune abyssale. traqage des cha;"es alim....taires. ---- b) Campagne de calibration ds pieges ci partieuZes (sediment trap) sur ta marge mediterraneenne ..., cottaboration avec 1'AIEA de Monaco et Ie CNRSIINSU. c) Campagne HY:RONAUT de pXongee du submersible NAUTILE sur Ie site hydrothermal actif, taboratoire natursI, dJ" IJo NIEPR sur Ia ride dJ" Paciiique orient,,1 en collaooration avec Ies equipes de I'oniversite de Californie a San Diego (Scripps Institutwn 01' Oceano(Tl'aphy) et a Santa Earbara.

Labtn-atoiN d'Algo1.c& f~to.Ze 1ft appZiquie (ll>tir>BI'site ds Ca...)

PhytopZancton : IsoIeme7lt, etude et cuZture d'aZ.ues microplancto7liques ou micrcbenthiques valorisabZes, a valeur 7lutritive cu resFe7lsables de nuisa7lces (P"''V1'rJ'!eeiWlf. Fhaeoc'!J"s~ 1.8). Cottabcration : ProlTf'Ol""e CSE "Phaeocystis". •

- 31 -

Reche~che Bkr Zes P~Cdkits aya~t k~ i"teret therapeutique en thalassotherapie et oos~etologie (collabcratio" avec VER äe Fha~cie de Cae") et mise au poi"t d'u" test de !ertilite des eau: (collaboratio" avec l'Age"ce de Bassi", Sei",e Norme",d;'e).

B."t1to~ : Hyb.,.idatio71 €t seZeatic'J'l de 8otA.ches de La"'inariaZ,C's a haut l'e"'lae"'e"t. C~~tkre de tisskS meri8mati~ke8 et ie protcptasmes ; hybridatic7't scmati~e (collaborat::"", au C.S. ''bases biclogiques de t 'aquacute"",e". Ckttkres d'atgkes rOkges et reeherches ster Sa.,.ca8Sk~ mutiCkm : regeneratio71, boutkrage et vatori8a~io" (cottabcrattc7't avec te grokpe "Sarr;asse" d'IFREMER. Suivi ecokgique de la fiore algale de l'estuaire de la Seine.

C/mt,.e de ,..,,1w7"c1te .... • ""to& ...... et aqJlQCUltwoe de I'R"""""",

· ]mportance pOkr la fertiZite des mGrais des phe710menes de mineraLisatic'J'l aba"t lieu Gi l'i"ter!ace eau - sedime",t. Collaboratio1'lS avec I.,. U"iversites de B1'est, POl'::s 1"1 (Rosoo!!) et AOl'hus (D01'Ie"Ol'k). • · Essai d'accroissement de Za prodk~tic" de bassins aquacoz.es (P. iaroJ1ickS) pOl' fertili8atiO"l. Collaborat;'o", avea AquaUvs Noi1"'lcutie1'. • I"oids",oe d8 la bai88s 88tivale du debit de la Chare"te 8ur la aapaoits biotique du ba88ill 08treicole de MOl'""",e8-ole1'O"l. A88ooiatiO"l avea le LEe äe La T1'embtade. Collaboratio", ave<: CEMAGREF Ly"",. • IJ1cid"7'IclI de Za du:r•• c:b... passage a t 'al.ime"ltati07l actiutl Ski' ta crooissaJ1ce ttt Ia 8uZ'vie du Iarve8 de 80lu (PNDR). CollaboratiO"l avsa IFREMER. ~iveZ'8ite POl'i8 VI n'illefraMhe). • Va,.iatio",s des Z'eeerve8 Hpid;'quu au aour8 du developpeme",t lOl'vaires du bOl'. CollaboratiO"l avea IFREMEI'.

Cmt... d'o..ea,."lDgU de M:ooeeille - Statitdmne- LlmrUry • Le theme produatiO"l oce01'liqus a pou1'su;,vi 8e8 studu 8Ul' Ie fonatiO"l",eme..t du SY8teme de ta pZ'oduatio", prima;'rs da1'l8 les oasa",,, eil eS8ayant de le Z'eHer au: st1'katUl'e8 phb8iqu8 et ahimique. a) Oaea"olcgie Gi MObe"",e eahelle 8UZ' troi8 8ite8 : ba88i", algeriert, bassi", LigW'o-p1"Cvenqal. pa=ahe du Rl.c..e. CollaboZ'atioll da"'8 le oadre des programme8 FZ'o",tal. Pelagolio" (faqade med;'teZ'rallse"'M. E8pafl'ls. Alge,.... ••• ). bJ P~OC"SS~8 biotogiqk.s a l'i~te~face ai~-me~, evatuatioJl'l des skrfaces aoZ',.e8po"da"t auz 8truatures d'aacumulatio" e" lo",otio" des ao"d;'tio"s metecr-c'1,ogi.ques. . . a) PZ'oduatic", pZ'imaizoe et Cbcle bicgeoahiMique dan8 les upwellillg8 cotiers et ZO"'BS a. dive~geJ1ce : iJ1ftue7'lce de ta cirCktaticJ1 oceaniquB et de Z'actiuite biclogique. Collabo1'atio"'8 1'IOt;,o1'/01es (C1'eco P4) et i",tematic1'101e8 (USA).

• Le the",e "Ci"etique et dylla",ique des migZ'atio"s" etud;'s les 1'bth..es circadie7'ls et ZU7'laires des crkstaces peracarides et des tarves de poisso7'ls ~~ k"e double approc~e ezp~rime7'ltate et i7'l situ. L'uti'tisation de l'acoutisque haute !requeJ1ce pour Z'ide"tiricat~k8tiqk"st ta dYJI'Iamique des particLt te8. Collacoratic",s da"S le oamoe du P.N.D.R. et Frc"tal. - 32 -

• Le theme "Ha,.ge co"ti"""taZe" et",Ue pa!' WIe dOkbZe app,.oche sediflJe"toZcgi""e et bioZogiqwe Zes fZkZ ve,.ticakz et advectifs de Pa.1"tickZes mi"e,.aZes et de mati.~. orga"iq~. ainsl qkC 1a CO"8.qke~ce de t.k~8 depots a t'iptterface eau-sedime"t-t,.a"sfe,.ts dil matie,.iI o,.ga""""iI et dil poHul%>lts ai"si ""e Ze l"ÖZe de ta biotlAl"batiO>l da>18 ces tl"a"s!e,.ts. Cottabo,:atio" avec Ze CEA da"s Ze cadl"e du p,.og1"al'r'le EcomaZ'ge, Ca"lIo" de T"uZ"" iIt du RhC"e. • Le themil "P,.oductio" et fo"ctio""ilme"t des reseakZ trophiques da"s Zes ecosllstemn ZittorakZ" etudr:iI Z'i,,:ZuB>lce des factelAl"s phlls"""es et chr:miqkes sur Z'activite bioZogiqke et Zes productio"s vegetaZe et a"imaZe da"s Za provi"ce "e,.iti""e, Zss fZkZ d'echa"ge de matiere et d'e"ergie e"tril Zes differ""ts c""'pal'tim""ts des ecoslIstemes cötiers. CoHaboratio" avec Zee equipu dil ta fat;a.de Hedite,.ra"ee""e da"s Ze cadl"e des prog,.o.mmee PilZagoZio", Ecothau ilt aVilc Zee eqkipes IFREHER PO"'" Z'approche de ta notiO>l de capacite biotiqke d '101 site cOlIChllHcoZiI. • E"fi", Ze th"'e "Recifs corraHe"s" a pokr objectif d'etude Zes meca"is,""s de tra"sformatio" et de tra"sfert du carbo"ate de caZci.... et de Za ..atiere oroga"iq&lll daJUJ 1..8 ,"_cil. coratz.una et t.,. mituwz tagwaai,..s. CoZZaboratio>lS nationaZes (Huse...., ORSTOH) ilt i"till"MtionaZils (AustraHe, USA). •

,="Zt. d.. Sei..." .. de ""pseiZte - L-i>Iy-~... dil Bieter- ,.g!u.te ...... et CKlUItKR • BaZisage, captographie ilt evoZutio" du r.cif-barr";;'re dil posi.dO>lin de ta baill de Port-Cros • Etudils sur Z'i"fZue"ciI dils bop"tils issus des d.tergil"ts ilt des pei"t..,.es antifouti"g sur Za p1taM,.ogame """,i"e Posi.dO'tia. ocea"ica DetiZe. • Captoqpaplais et baZisage dn pm.pt_"ts li...tlliq..es dil Za baiil dil Port-MI%>I. Etude de SO>l ;""Zutioto dilpuie 1967 et dilgroe dil cO>Itaminatioto pa1' Ze cuiv,.". • TiI"e ..rs iI" meta..z Zcurds des oursi"s cOOliIstibZes PQ.1"Q.CB>ltrot ... tividus, aa..s des BO>In a f1l"a"de activite tourist.."..e de Z'izil dil Port-czoos. CoZZaboratioto : Pa.1"C NationaZ a" Po,.t-Cros, CERBOH, GIS Posi.do>lies, La.bcl"atoiril Vetepi"aire et TozicoZogiq.. e dil NapsiliZZiI (Fra"ciI). U"ivilrsite de Pise fItaZie). Pro Ambio, Lieboovte (PortugaZ).

~iI b'cgo - Vrti...... it4"....,.,.. et »rJoie c..P'ie - C' RS

Lil themil g....l"aZ des rechercheil du groO"pil "BOOpZallCtO"" du Laboratoire A,.ago ports Ski" l'..,...Z/ts. d•• ctntditic... d. Za pPOdMCtiOlf silCOtldaiN et Sa pelJkZat ioto. . . . E>I 1987 Zn etudn O>It .te pokrsuivin ...,. : • La comparaiso" d" diff.re"ts ecosllstemes p;tagi.qkes et de ZBk1" prod""tioto. ezprime••" tepm. de biomasse, ds vaZiI.. p caZopifiq"iI et dil etrkct..re d~mil""i~""~ZZ,, dilil po~u~atfo"s de Copepodils 0" dil Zekl" metaboZisme da"s Zes a_res ocean.".."s Ca.1"actil,.."t."..es : 0.) lo"e lub-a"ta.1"Cti.qk" (baSil TAAF d" X"rgu"Z ...), b) 10"" de co"tpastes h~dpoZogiquee aus a Za va,.iatio" des .cosllstemes : "o,.aZZie". lo"e de re.,o"tiln d'ilauz, au Zarge des cötes du B,.esit, - campal1'le "ND SS". aUlIe eCktien d •• TAAF .e lIn cottaboration avec Z. Mke.km et Z'~ivil,.si.da.dil Sa"ta U-rsuta dil Rio dil ~a"ili1"O. c) Bo"e oZiqot,.ophe a str..ct..,." hlldroZogiqke ve,.ticaZe r"tativeme..t stahZe, de ta mer des Sapgasses - CaMpal1"e "Chlolflll3:". - 33 -

d) d4"s le golfe du Lic", les c4rocteristiques du mesc.ocplo"ct~ O"t ete suivies e" relotio" avec l'evoluti~ soisc""iers des c~diti~s hydrolcgiques - campag"es "Pslagolio"", S" colloboratio" apsc U"ipsrsite de Morssills - LUl'I~")I. • L .tude erp.l'tme"ta.'. I de8 I'I-OCeS8kS I'"urr~taPlt "'"- prouuct1.OJ'f.>.' sscC"Iu.utre.>- • t ,. I I a regul4tio" des po"tes ch.. Iss Ccpepodes e>I fC"ctic" ds 1'4pport ~tritio""sl e>I collaborat~ 4pec Pr Nival.

Equipe .tJoIurt..... st ttntetw--t tU l·~II.t_ b.>Itlliqus E"tre 1983 et 1987, Z'4ctivite s'sst exercee ~s Ze cadre ds treis pr09"f'm4me>lt dss ecosyst"'ss tittorauz, Mt""",ent 4U lXIisi"oge des tributaires cötisrs, st des eeosyste..es de Za ma:rgs. Ce profTl'Ol'O"6 ECCMAlIGE 4 un carQctere pluridiseipZ~ire ma:rque. - Ls programms TROPBOBENTBE sur Z'utiZis4tion dss rsssouress trophiques par Zss orga"ismss bs"thiquss. S'aepuya"t sur k"S approchs experimS"t4Zs i" situ 014 i" vitro iZ s"visags sg4Z.mS"t Z.s tr4"sferts d'e>lsrgie au ••in-a;;:m;au trephu;us t e>lthiqus. - P4r aiZZeurs. Z•• don"e.s aequis.s .ur Za bioZogis st Za distributio" a diff_r."t•• _eh.ZI.s d.s orga"ismes ma:r..... S'4ppuyont .ur Za taxinomie cZassiqk' .t "kmeriqus, Za cytoge"etique et Z. poZymorphism. s""4'matiqus. ont p.r"'" d'obt...ir des resuZt4ts interessents sur Ze p~ de Za p4Z.og.ogr4phie. de Za biogeographie et d. Z'evoZutio" de c.rtoi"8 groupes (A""_Zides, Crust4ces et MoZZusques). C.s resultate ~t ete rsgroupes sous Ze titre ST'RABIOCENE. CoZZaborot~s ~tio....Zes : Stot~ ZooZogique ViZZs!'ra>lCh.-sur-Mer (J.C.Norty. C. Thiriot-Quievr.uz) .t Laborotoire de Chimi•• U"iv.rsit_ P. I M. Curi. (J. Am<7U1'ouz) •

- NodeZisotio" d. Zo productio" primoire Qpartir de proc.ssus photosY"thetiques (predict~ du fZux de moti.rs orgeniqus). - Qua"tificotio" du röZs du phytopZaMto" vis-a-vis d.s eehang.s aVee Z'atmosph.rs (cycls du ear~). - Detsrmin4tic" d.s co"ditio"s ds produetio" par u"e approehe eeophlisioZcgiqus (bicchimis st bicphllsiqus dss preceSSk8 metabotiques). Lss etudss porte"t pri"cip4Isms"t eur Zes Di4tomees, aa..s des 4ires oeea"iques v4riess : eta"g de T/uJu (progr<11'f'le ECOTBAU), a~es otigotrophes et mesotrophes tropic4ZsS (ElJMELI) et oeeon A"tarctique (ANTARES). CoZZ4bor4tio"s n4tio"4lss st i"ter"atio"al.s : CRECO P4. Eeole Normal. Superieure, UBO, CFR, CREMA l'Bokm.au. Ce"tre d'OeeoMZcgie de NoPseiZZe et CEAB de BZ4"eS, B.dford Institute, D4rthmouth (C4nada). lJ>Iiversite Level ds Quebsc. ERA ds VilZsfronehs, INRS Rimouski (Conodo). Laborotoirs d'BydrobioZogie Lagk"4ire st M4rins ds Montpellisr, Cs"tre ds Foiblss p4di04ctivite, Agence Intern4tion4le pCkr l'Energie Atomique, ~~iversite de Lyo", M9HN P4ris, IFREMER. Universite ds Bordeakx. St4tio" BioZogiqke - 34 -

d·A"eaehon. Dove MD.l'Üte Labol'D.to"y - Ne., Castl.. LX. U..i".."sity College Galivay. I"Ia..d. WBOI-USA. Ch ..sapeake Biologieal Labo"ato"y - USA. Unive"site de Flo"id... Univ.."site d·A~st.."da~ (NDL). U..ive"site d·Olb....bUl'g. u..ive"site de Ma""akeeh. Univ.."site .. t Mus.u~ d.. Mad"id. Labo"atoi".. d.. wi..de~e"e (UK). u..iveaite de BD.l'eelo..e. LtJbi.l'e tU Biotegi4 V.g;ut. lIaPW - u..i.-.sit' l'i.nrH " Mo.J>W CIn>i4 En 1987 I·equip.. eeobiogeog"aphie et valo"isation des algues a pa"tieuli."..m....t deveLoppe I..s "eeh.."eh..s finalise..s SUl' Ies algues marines sur I..s eot..s f"an~aises .. t dans I·oeeQ.PI austl'D.I. D..s fieh..s d·id....tifieation ont et' "ealise.. s pou" I ..s espeees de veqetauz ma"ins p"es..ntant un inte,,;t eeonomiqk" tant pou" Ia Hedit .."ran... (80 ..sp.e..s) qk.. pOkr I.. s regions aust"ales (20 ..spee..s). Collabo"ation aV"e Ia FAO .. t Ia CEE. Par aiII..urs. un.. synthes.. su" Ies st"ategi..s 'eologiqu..s .. t 'eophysiologiqu..s de qu.. lqu..s .. sp.ees (Plo.mal'io.. Mastoea"pus. P.. t"oe.. lis. Ulva) 0. et' ..ntr..p"is... EIL .. 0. donne I~~s cottaborahons av..e t 'ATME (Ag8PIC.. Fl'~ais .. POUl' Ia MaW CJu>ie " L'etude du mie"oplaneto... o!'ganism..s ,<14 peHt" taille, autot"ophes et het..rotroph..s. eonstituant un.. eha~n. t"oph~que parallele a e.. II.. ~e I'on avait prise ..n eo~pte jusqu'Ci ces d..rnieres annees (diatome..s - eop"eod..s). constitue I'une des originalites du groupe. Elle 0. pousse Ci une forte revision des eoneepts su" l ..squ.. Is etaient bases Ies ealeuls de Ia p"oduetion d.. s OCea"8. et ~st t'objet d'k"_ activite i"t.~"atic"at. importante a taqkeZZ. t 'equipe partieipe. A t 'aktz-e flZt,..",it. d. z.a!J01'r"S de taitZ.. dB. orga"'iamf1" planetoniqueo. Ies '""p".s....tants du pIQPlctOPl geLati"ekZ eonstitu....t kn obj..etif prio"itaire. En eff.. t Ieur distribkt~on, IeUl' metabolieme. I..Ul' dyna~ique de pOFulatio~. etudiee par des equipes americain..s. n'ant motive que quelques travauz en Nedite"l'D.nee, - 35 -

apPQ~t. Enfin J l'eqkipe k"e cc"tribktio" notabt. dans dekZ domainea qui fte peuveftt pas vraimeftt etre separes pour I'oceaftographe : Ia strkCture spatiat. de t'.cosystem••t des masses d'.au et te foftctioftft.meftt de t '.COSl/st..... p.Iagique.

8tJoIt du pI""etoft. L'aftalys. sp.etraI. classique des s.ri.s d'ob••rvatio>ts a permis de eoftBtater que Ie sp.ctre d'Aergie des rr.quBftCe••taU reIativ.meftt ....bIabI. ä C,kZ d 'aktJ'"e8 me1'8. mais a InO'ttre aussi I.a Plee.,aiee d••egme"ter 1.e8 seri,8 eft portioft. homogefte. pour Ie.quelle. Oft peut admettre Ia .taticftftarite du sigftaI (Theveftot, 1981). Eft eOftsequ.ftce Oft a partieuli.remeftt etudie I•• methodeB th partitio>t du .i{lftQI. Eft matier. de productio>t primaire, Ie. tois de variatio>ts du r...aemtmt quafttiq... d. Ia productio>t primaire SOftt .tudu•••t estimees par Ia methode du Carbofte 14 .ur des eultures d. mieroatgues .t d•• populatioft. ftatur.II.s (ColIaboratio>t : GRECO P4).

Nous aVOftS mis 'ft plae• • ft mars 1984 Uft' programme d'acquisitioft d'iftformatiofts d. base (FrOfttal), a I'eehetI. tB1"pOr.tI. dll. cycI. QPPlueI, ewr I'eeosyst.m. pelagiqu' d. Ia parti. ftord de Ia H.r Ligur•• c. typ. d'iftformatioft (seri. th me.ur•• avee kft pas de temps d. 1$ jours tmtre 3 se 28 miII.s d. ta eot.), n'.ristait pa. daft. eette r.gioft, si I'oft ezeept. I•• param.tres hydrologiquee qui Ollt deja ete acquie sur e.tt. hase par I. LPCH : miesions Pro. VI. L. programm. Frofttal p.rm.t d. eOllfta'tr. Ie. eOllditiOfts hydrologiqu•••t biotogiqu.s tors d. tout. operatio>t plu. spieiaIise. (mi.siOfts ProIig Ir, Trophos II, Higragel par ""'empt.). Uft e.rtaill nombre d'.tres vivaftts doIIt Ie röte dans I. d.v.ftir de Ia matiere particulair. d. ta eouche sup.rficieU••st "",I e.r1Ze, Oftt be..efieie d '11.11 'flort d. Ia part ·d. I 'equip•• co"",e I•• euphausiaees. L'iftteret qu. t'Oft port. a e •• orgaftisme. dafts d'autr•• 80ft'. produetiv.s d•• OeeaftS nous a eoftduit a etudi.r I 'evolutioll aftftueU. d. I'aetivite d.s ""Y""'S digestiv•• tm "'er Ligure .t dafts I 'Afttarctiqu" tors des miuio>ts du prograJlF'lt a ete recollstitue.

D'autr.s dOft..eu acquiseB ewr I. kritI juviftil. Oftt p.rmis d. preeiser I.s modaHte••peeifiqus .t Ies temps d" ta diff.r.lZCiatioft d. ta flO'Iad., des caraet.r.s BIIzwet. secOlZdaires et de ta pre..iere maturatio>t d"s Il"",et"s.

CoIIaboratioft : progrlJ1'rn" EPOS (Europeaft PotarsterlZ Stkdy) - 36 _

La mode tisation de t 'eeosyste,"e petaqi""e • 'e.t po..r...'vte par ta ",ise au point d'..n togieiet permettant ta s';"'utation de trois nivea~ trophi""es dans t'ea.. superficiette puis d'une strueture .';mptifiee schematisant ta distrib.. tion verticate du ptancton dans ta coue'e 0 - 100 m. Les eenditions de formatio" de d.kZ mazima de biomasse phyhtcpta~cto"iq~e C"t .te misBs cn evidenee et te..r verification neees.ite ta mes..re a ta mer des variabtes eonvenabtes. L'apetieation au: donnees obtenues dans tes ",e.oeos~es Cepe~ a permi. de reconna.tre tes parties du mcdete ""i sent satisfai.antes et cette. qui demandent une no..vette reyresentation. On a ainsi constate q..e te. microphyte. etaient represente. de faqon trop si"'pte pour permettre une simutation convenabte des grokpes d'herbivores. &es mcdetes prenant an compte ta dynamique de poputation et te co~rtement migratoire ent ete mis au point pCl<1' tes copepode. et tes tarves meroptanctonique••

Ezptoration fonetionnette des groupes maJekr. et acqui.ition des etements du bitan de ",atiere - d.pense. ",etabotique. et caracteri.tique. trophique. - capacite d'adaptation enBymatique - constit.. tion chimique et biochimi~e. - mioroBooptancton - maeroBooptancton getatineuz - appendicutaires - crustace. - physiotcgie du phytoptancton• • L '.v~tktion des f1.u: induit. par te. etre. vivants au co""S de t 'annee depend non .e..tement des fonctions physiotogiques q..i regtent te bitan de matiere de chaque espece. mais aks.i de ta dynamique des poputations, des periode. de reproduction et de croissa"ce. Ce. probteme. ne pe..vent etre abordes qu'au taboratoire. graee au maintien d'organi.me. captkre. Ok eteves. On a eonatate par te pa••e que t'on "e peut aborder 1. 'etude du bitan Ok de ta d!f'lOl"ique de poputation d'une espeee qu'apre. avoir re.otu te. difficktte. d'etevage. En effet t'utiti.ation de poputation. homogene. non traumatisee. par ta peehe permet t'aequi.ition de donnee. d'e~cettente quatite. La vateur des estimationB des f1.u: de matiere induits par t 'activite biotcgique d6pend de ta quaHte de ces res..ttats.

A ce titre, une .tude est NaHs.e 8k1' ta ....trition. ta dispersion des tarves meroptanctoni""es et t 'effet du paue ....tritionnet des parents 8W' te"" ducendance. avec pour apptioation tes tarves ptanctotrophes d'Eehinodermu.

Cro"pe d'Kt"de de. lIiti....., K.h....i .... • e Litto..allZ (~ ""';t':- du L""-."II'-II.". ,..".. U. dU Boi-.

L4b0ratMN tU Biol.DgW ...... tU t 'lmiW7'"Ue tU 'a1ftn

Re~hel'che8 Bu.J- 1.8 ;~08Y8te"'.8 a) !twie des eo"""",aut." aoobe"thiql.es de t'estuail'e de ta Loil'e R.pal'tition spatiats "sto" tell gradie'lts de sati"it. et ssto" ta quatite du "ub"tl'at• • Ci".tiqke d •• p.~pt.~e"tB : a~ivi des commkn4kt.s en divB1'8 points earaet.l'istiql.s" ds t'sstuail's sn fenetien des conditio'lS hydl'otogiques. • Importance des diverse. commkn4kt.s dans t.8 r.gimea atime"taires des pl'edatn.rs ds t '"stuail''' au cours des saisO'ls. b) Obssl'vation "t suivi de ta gestion hydl'autique d" divers marais Uttora"",. Illeidsnc.s "ur ta fa..... aquatiqu. b."thiql.. ou cil'cuta"t•• cJ Ecotogis "t pateoecotogis de peuptements matacotogiql.es Uttora"",. Fleeherehes "ur tes orga"isme" pta"eto"iql.e" cu be"thiql.e" mari..s aJ Biotogie d." poputations de ta erev.tte gl'i". : r'partition spatio-t.mpor.tt", Cl'oi"sanee et reproduetion. eomportement atime"taire et rythmu d 'aetivit' migratrice ; regime atimentaire et ptace aa.." t 'atimentation du pr'dat"ur". bJ Anaty.. tU facteure genetiql.e" eontrÖtant ta SU-1'O.tio ehell t 'Aftrphipode O>oehe. t ia g"""'ll"ettu". e} Dynam

Std"'" tU Bio!ogü ~ tU t'n. lIaitta- (/lIri-..,," tU 11._.. IJ • er.ation d'.... ob".MJO.toir. dn R• ."ourc"" Vi"""t"" du gotfs du Norbiha'l, lIons proteg's eorrnpcndartt a t'air. de NpI'OduetiorJ tU ptu"Uur" ""pee"" benthiqu•• (""iches. d'capodn. poissO'l8 ptat•• ste••• J avse eo_ pI'Ogramrte. principa"", : - Biotogill IIt dyllOJfliq... d. poputatio'lS tU ""iches (Sepia officinaUs L. J tU er.vsttss 8t d';'trittss, - Survsiltanell ds la qualit;' dlls sauz st ;'tud" dss poputations phytoptanetoniques. - 38 -

~ (0.5. Astthorsson & Th. Thordardottlr>

MARINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. PO BOX 1390. REYKJAVIK Long term studies of primary productlon. ChI a distribution. denslties and composition of zooplankton In the Icelandic shelf area durlng spring were continued. At selected stations data was obtalned on light attenuatlon. ChI a depth distribution and PvsI relatlonships in Atlantlc. Arctlc and mixed waters. Two tlmes durlng the spring crulse ground ChI a data was obtalned slmultaneously with a fllght by a NASA alrplane equipped wlth an Ocean Colour Scanner. EcolOQlcal Investlgations of the phyto- and zooplankton communltles of Isafjord (on the north-west coast 66010·N. 23000'W> were started In February and contlnued at approximately monthly Intervals throughout the year. The aim is to quantlfy seasonal variations In distribution. abundance and productlon of phytoplankton. zooplankton and flsh larvae. Work was contlnued on the predatlon on euphausilds by cod In the subarctlc shelt waters north-west. north-east and south-east of Iceland. Durlng September planktonlc Investlgations (prlmary production. Chi a. PvsI curves. zooplankton distributIon and composltlon> were carried out In the Greenland Sea (67-72dN>. As In prevlous years the Institute tor Marine Envlronmental Research In Plymouth was assisted In the runnlng of thelr Contlnuous Plankton Recorders between Iceland and Scotland. and Iceland and U.S.A. - 39 -

Ireland

(R Graingerl

The Fisheries Research Centre has conducted surveys for herring larvae in ICES Divisions VIa and VIIb each year during October and November since 1981. A mackerel egg survey in Divisions VIa and VIlb was also undertaken in May 1987 in conjunction with the fishing industry.

The University College, Galway is involved in ichthyoplankton research off the west coast of Ireland and, in particular, Galway Bay. This work is mainly descriptive but vertical and horizontal distributions are examined in relation to physical and chemical oceanographic data collected concurrently. This university is also involved in community mapping and populaion studies of benthos in Irish coastal waters and in the Celtic • Sea. The Irish Phytoplankton Research Group in conjunction with the Fisheries Research Centre conducts research into various aspects of marine phytoplankton ecology with most of the emphasis on "red tide" organisms.

The Shellfish Research Laboratory is investigating primary production in various Irish estuaries to gain information on their carrying capacities for mariculture and the potential growth of shellfish.

Trinity College, Dublin carries out research into benthic community structure and dynamics in Dublin Bay. - 40 _

NETHERLA ~'DS (J.J. Zijlstra)

Studies on mesocosms, represent.ing tidsl flat ecosystems. on oil pollution were terminated and l'eplaced by studies of the effect of harbour sludge. The harbour sludge used contained high concentrations cf nutrients and organie matter, wilh a large admixture of micropollutants. The first reslll ts indicate a streng effect of eutrophication on the benthie fauna.

As in 1986 a study was made of the physics, chemistry and biology around e frontal system, seperating tidelly mixed and stratified waters in an erea north of the Frisian islands. Special attention was given to the effect of the front on phytoplankton composition, primary production, zooplankton and benthos in the ereas north, south and in the frontal zone. The frontal ~one seems to ettract larger concentrations of seabirds, as Ouillemots, related probably to higher densilies of sprats in the zone. The material collected by the Ketherlends during the synoptic mepping • experiment of the benthic fauna of the North Seal carried out in spring 1986, wes fully worked up. The date give valuable information on biomass end composition of the macrobenthic fauna, but also iodieate a considerable increase in the abundance of some organisms (e.g. Amphiure filiformis) since an earlier sampling period in 1950­ 1955. The increase is in particuler strong in the area south of the Doggerbank and is tentatively ettributed to eutrophication of the south-eastern North Sea. A similer increase in benthic fauna has been observed on tidel flat areas of the lOadden See.

In. cCJopt:=ratluil wi~h Gerwan s",:i·~.!tlsts fre4 the Biologische Anstel t Helgoland a study wes made or the pelagic distribution of ATP and ETS in the coesta1 aree of Oermeny and the Netherlands.

The growth rate of plaice 1arvae in late winter, studied by the daily ring structure in otoliths, wes found to be positively related to ambient w~ter temperatures, in the period when temperatures declined from 12-4 C. Thereefter no relation "ith temperature could be shown.

Werk on the grazing rate cf Te-mora longicornis showed the phYsiological stage of the algae to be of importance. Even more important. however. seems to be that interna1 rhYthms of both algae and copepods affect the experimental results.

Netherlands Institute rar F!shery Investigations. IJmuidpn (N. Daan)

StoIDa.ch same1 ing studies Extensive stomach sampling of cod and whiting was continued in 1987 for the third year in successi.,n. This completed the leES coordinated program 1985/1987 and the results will be subjected to thorough analysis before dec1sions on further actions in this fleid will be taken,

Phytoplankton studles Monitoring of phytoplankton has been restricted to shellfish growing areas in the coastel weters of the lietherlands. In September 1987 a DSP outbreal< was agein observed in the .addensea. 1t lasted for about 6 weeks ~ith maximum cell numbers of Dinophysis acuminata of 30 per L and led to moderate toxicity levels according to a rat bioassay. ,'ater temperature was shown to play an important role in the relation p~t\o.n,..P1 flinnph,\'cd" (",...11 nllreh"'1c; in tt-po \"ltf'T' nn'i tmd,.it~· nf rlllc.;r:nlc.;. - 41 -

NORWAY (H.R. Skjoldal)

1. Institute of Marine Research (IHR), Bergen Biological Station Fledevigen (BSF), Arenda1

1.1 Plankton studies in the Barents Sea (PRO MARE)

Plankton investigations in the framework of the Norwegian Research Program for Marine Arctie Eeology (PRO MARE) eontinued. A program with monthly sampling of nutrients and plankton at two transeets in the western and central Barents Ses was carried out. in order to deseribe the sessonal pattern of plankton development. During a summer cruise special emphasis was placed on studies cf vertical plankton structure, photobiology. grasing. metabolie ectivity and krill biology. Zooplankton abundanee and distribution were deseribed ss part of multispeeies investigations in the autumn.

1.2 Reeruitment studies and iehthyoplankton (HELP)

The studies on the distribution in spaee and time of the early life stages cf the most important cc.mercial spec1es continued. This eonsisted of investigations on spawning area. spawning/hatehing pattern end intensity as weIl as larval drift. The drift studies ineluded physieal oeeanographie observation and development both of dynamie numerieal and lsboratory models.

The reeruitment studies eontinued ineluding environment. produetion of prey organisms. feeding, mortality, vertical migration etc. These studies are earried out on the Norwegian spring-spawning herring and Areto-Norwegian eod.

1.3 Toxie phytoplankton

Monitoring and studies on distribution end ecology of toxic phytoplankton in the Sksgerak end dong the southern cosst of Norwsy - 42 -

were continued (BSF).

1.4 Methodology

A progrBm on acoustic estimation of zooplankton by means of multiple rrequency sonar systems continued. Technical sea trials and evaluations took place and comparative studies on acoustic estimated size distributions relative to those from Juday net and Tucker net ware performed.

An image analysis system ("Zeus") has been developed by Drs. Estep and Maclntyre. The system is based on a Macintosh pe as the user interface. and it will be used for automated counting and sizing of varfous plankton organisms. •

2. University of Bergen

Deparbnent of Marine Bio1ogy

2.1 Studies on the bio1ogy of the food-species of young cod in a fjord (Masfjorden) where 1arge amounts of artificially reared cod ere to be set out. (In cooperation with IMR, Bergen).

2.2 Studies on the plankton productivity in Masfjorden, where especially the relationship between allochthonous (plankton bianass brought into the fjord by advection), end autoch­ thonous production is studied.

2.3 Studies on the effects on the pelagic ecosystem in the Ryfylke fjords, of the deve10pnent of the U1.la-F~rre hydroelectric plant. (In cooperation with the Department of Geophysies, University of Bergen).

2.4 Studies on the biology and productivity of planktonie ciliates, calanoid copepods, and ctenophores in the Barents Sea. (Part of the interdisciplinary Pro Mare project) • 2.5 Investigation on the effect of nutrient-rich deep-water (artificial upwelling) on the productivity of the surface water, as exempl1fied by the growth of scallop larvae and juveniles in plastic enclosures in the sea.

2.6 Investigations on the composition of the near-bottcm fauna (suprafauna) in Norwegian fjords, on the shelf, and in the Norwegian Sea, With special emphasis on plankton-benthos interactions and food-selection of demersal fish• • 2.7 Effects of organie pollution on benthic communities. 3. Norwegian Institute for Water Research NIVA, Os10

3.1 Levels of Chlorophyll ~ are used to indicate the degree of eutrophication in several polluted fjords. Aerospace Remote Sensing is included in these studies along with quantitative phytoplankton samples. nutrients and hydrographical Dleesurements,

3.2 Studies of pollution effects (eutrophication. inorganic/ persistant organic westes) on hard bottoDl and soft bottoDl communities have been performed during several years in a range of Norwegian fjords.

3.3 Studies of rock shore communities in connection with discharge of cooling water.

3.4 "Joint Monitoring Programme" in Norway includes Oslofjord area. S0rfjorden. Hardangerfjorden and Orkdalsfjorden: Dlonitoring of contaminants in sea water. sediments and marine organisms , with the purpose of evaluating health risk. spatial and temporal trends.

3.5 Environmental impact essessment for the Heidrun oil/ges field development. - 44 -

3.6 Functional responses end recovery or sedimentary bottoms eontaminated with oil based drill euttings.

3.7 Mesoeosm studies of effeets of oil end metal on energy turnover in the eommon periwinkle (Littorina ~).

3.8 Experimental long term effeets of oil on roeky shore mesoeosm communities. 4 University of Oslo • Department of Biology

4.1 Marine Botany

4.1.1 Pieo- & nenoplankton f1agellates from Aretie end Mediterren­ ean waters. (J. Throndsen).

4.1.2 Diatolls related to iee in the Arctie part of PRO MARE Projeet. (G.R. Hasle).

4.1.3 Nitrogen turnover in eoastal end Arctie waters. 'SN investi­ gations. Part of PRO MARE Projeet. (So Kristiansen) •

4.1.4 Sea lee algae in the Berents Sea. Part of PRO MARE Projeet (E.E. Syvertsen).

4.2 Marine Zoology

4.2.1 Bioehemieal geneties end breeding strueture of the Antaretie krill. Euphausia superba. (So Fevolden).

4.2.2 Allozymic variation within and between populations of Ieeland seallops. (Chlamys islendiea). (So Fevolden). - 45 -

4.243 Effects of eutrophication on the benthos of the Quter 0510- fjord. (J.S. Cray).

4.2.4 Effects of oil on structuring processes on intertidal soft­ bottolD cOlIIIDunities. Project running 1985-1988. (H.P. Leinaas &. H. Christie).

University of Troms0 • TromS0 Museum 5.1. Zoobenthos

5.1.1 Monitoring of hard-bottom communities a10ng the northern coast of Norway ~Troms, Finnmarkl and Sva1bard (B. Gu11iksenl.

5.1.2 Succession of hard-bottom communities on vo1canic rock after the vo1canic outbreak at Jan Mayen in 1970 (B.Gu11iksen).

5.2. Pe1agic fauna

5.2.1 Eco1ogy cf sympagic fauna (under ice faunal in the Arctic and the Antarctica IB.Gu11iksenl.

5.3. Fish

5.3.1 Bio1ogy and eco1ogy of Arctic fish (T. Haug, B.Gu11iksen, 1.-B. Fa1k-Petersen, V. Frivol1, W. Vaderl.

5.3.2 Migration and recruitment mechanisms of Greenland ha1ibut, Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, in the Svalbard area (T. Haug, O.R. GOd0, B. Gu11iksenl.

5.3.3 Bio1ogy, eco1ogy and the possib1e use of the At1antic ha1ibut. Hipp0910ssus hippoglossus, in aquacu1ture (T. Haug, B. Gu1liksen E. Kj0rsvik, P. Solemdal, S.E. Fevoldenl. - 46 -

5.4 Birds

5.4.1 Mapping and population survei1lance of seabirds in Northern Norway (W.Vader. R. Barrett. K.-B. Strann).

5.4.2 The food and breeding eco1ogy of breeding seabirds in Northern Norway and Svalbard (W. Vader. R. Barrett. B. Gulliksenl.

Institute of Biology and Geology • 5. 5 Pbyt:opladton

5.5.1 Marine ecological research in ehe arcti~:' ~i Phytoplankton (a component project of PRO MARE, the Norwegian Research Program for Marine Arctic Ecology) is focused upon the growth physiology of arctic diatoms and Pbaeocystis poucbetii. and interactions between phytoplankton and herbivorous zooplankton (H.C. Eilertsen, J.P. Taasen).

5.5.2 Quantifications of seasonal variations in numerical abundance and production of phytoplankton in fjords and coastal waters of northern Norway (H.C. Eilertsen, J.P. Taasen).

5. 6 Zooplankton

5.6.1 Ecological investigations of the zooplankton community of Balsfjorden have concentrated on quantifying condition, growth and production in copepods and krill (C.C.E. Hopkins, K.S. Tande, S. Granvik). - 47 -

5.6.2 ealanus finmarchicus and ealanus,glacialis in the Barents Sea: Growth strategy and ecological importance. This PRO MARE project analyses the interaction between phytoplankton production and production ecology oE these two dominant calanoid copepods in the Norwegian arctic (K.S. Tande, e.e.E. Hopkins) •

5.6.3 eomparisions of phytoplankton and zooplankton ecology and community structure in the fjords of Spitsbergen (e.e.E. U~~F!P.S, ~.S. Tande, H.e. Eilertsen, J.P. Taasen).

• 5.6.4 The importance of small copepods in the arctic zooplankton community (PRO MARE project) (e.e.E. Hopkins, 1. Norrbin).

5. 7. SOObeDebOB

5.7.1 Population dynamics and production of the prawn Pandalus borealis in north Norwegian fjords, the Barents Sea and West Spitsbergen. The importance of prawns in the diet of cod (e.e.E. Hopkins, E.M. Nilssen).

5.7.2 Investigations of the bottom fauna of the Barents Sea and the Spitsbergen erea (E. Oug).

5.7.3 Intertidal distribution and zonation (E. Oug)

5.7.4 Assessment oE effects of organic pollution (sewage and fish factory effluents) in harbours and enclosed bays (E. Oug, R. Nilssen).

5.7.5 Long-term changes in soft bottom communities in Balsfjorden (E. Oug). - 48 -

5.8 l'isb

5.8.1 Fertilization and development oE marine Eishes studied by morphologieal (ineluding EH), physiologieal and genetieal methods (E. Kjarsvik).

5.8.2 EEfeets oE hydroearbons on fish embryos and larvae (E. Kjersvik).

5.8.3 Development and Eunetion of the digestive system, and the inEluenee oE egg quality on the eondition and survival ~ of marine fish larvae (eod, and flatEish) (E. Kjersvik, C.C.E. HOpkins) •

5.8.4 Interaetive segration between small pelagie Eishes in a fjord system (S. Granvik, A. Klemetsen).

5.8.5 OuantiEieation of feeding, somatie and gonad growth as well as eondition in relation to otolith zone deposition in eapelin, Mallotus yillosus, and herring ~ harengus in Balsfjorden (C.C.E. Hopkins, K. Aase).

5.8.6 Seleeted aspeets of the biology oE polar eod (Boreogadus ~) (J.P. Taasen, V. Frivoll).

5.8.7 Growth, feeding, and otolith zone deposition as a funetion of age, sex, and season in the witeh, Glyptoeephalus eynoglossus (C.C.E. Hopkins, O.K. Gutvik, R. Hilsen).

5.8.8 Survival, growtb, and behaviour oE eod larvae, ~ ~ feeding on phytoplankton, and eopepod nauplii in intensive eulture systems (H.C. Eilertsen, K.S. Tande, P.C. Krogstad, S. Laken).

5.8.9 Littoral spawning bebaviour, and egg hatehing in relation to environmental [Betors in Bals[jord herring (C.C.E. Hopkins, E. Kjarsvik, I.J. Lur&S). - 49 -

6 Unhersity of TrQndheim

6.1 PhyloplaDkloD

6.1.1 Metabolism of 3-1.3 glucans in diatoms (5. Myklest.d. A. Seter).

6.1.2 Endogenous rhythms in marine diatoms (K. 0stg.ard).

6.1.3 Effeers on growth rates and ehemie.l eompOSlllOn of dinon.gell.­ tes when adapting to different light intensilies and pholoperiods (K.Tangen. K. Hegge).

6.1.4 Oeeurrenee of potentially harmful plankton in relation to fish diseases and mussel poisoDing (K.Tangen. K.Heidal). • 6.1.5 Studies of arctic marine diatoms with special emphasis on photo adaplion. growlh rate and respiration (E.Sakshaug. M. Gilstad).

6.1.6 Biochemical and photoadaptational studies of arctic ice algse (E. N0St Hegseth).

6.1.7 Studies of cxcretion of organic compounds from marine diatoms (5. Mykleslad).

6.2 ZooplaokloD

6.2.1 Routine sampliDg of zooplankton onee a month by Nansen 75/100 ym nel at Ihree oceanographie stations in Trondheimsfjorden (J.-A. Sneli).

6.3 Phycab'Dlhos

6.4 Zaob'Dlhas

6.4.1 Taxonomy and life history of deep water molluscs in the Norwegian Sea (J.-A. Sneli).

6.4.2 Taxonomy and zoogeography of Arehaeogastropods in Seandinavian and arer;e waters (J.-A. Sneli).

6.4.3 Heritability of growth in MytHus edulis (T. Stromgren. M.V. Nielsen).

6.6.4 Effeets of indueed triploidy on growth in Myti!us edulis (T. Stromgren. M.V. Nielsen).

6.6.5 Bioenergeties in Myti!us edulis I.rvae (M.V. Nielsen. T. Stromgren). - 50 -

6.6.6 Efrect of environmental f3.ctors on growth of M\'tilus edulis (M.V. f\:it~lsl.·n).

6.6.7 Biodegr.d.tion of h)'drocarbons in Ml'tilus rdulis (T. Stromgren).

6.S Ichlhyoplanklon and nsh

6.5.1 Melhods for biochemie.l genetie identifieation of planktonie fish eggs (with special emph.sis on g.doids) by diag.nostie enzyme loci .pplied on • routine basis (J. Mark. G. Sundnes).

6.5.2 Popul.tion genetie studies in m.rine fishes (J. Mork).

6.5.2 Tr.nspl.nl.tion/homing experiments with marine fishes (J. Mork). • - 51 -

POl.J\N:) (K. Wiktor & Z. Witek)

!!.!!.!! " 1JHII1n th. tr._ork ot 0 le,;-to!'ll .oaitorial prot;1'o_ 611 th. '. Po11.II P1.h••1...... ,;...at z.ao 8 oru1••••t permonont .tot1.a•• .... o0D4uct.el. Ph1to,laaktoa. ohlo.,ph111 !. 1'1'1"1'1 produot100, m.oo.ooplookton bl lohth1oplonkton ood Ooo••lDnal17 .101'0- • zooboothoe ••11" pl.d. C.no.ntrltloo. ot "'T7 met,l, 1n t1eh• .... "1I.ured. 1101d part Dt OOO".t•• tunotlonlnl prot;r.... 00 • po1710n 1n tho' O

.!.!!..!!.!!.L!! Cru1••• öt R/T -Prot••or Sl.dlook1- '0' org.ol.od to tb. Sootl. Soo .nd .dJoo.nt ••t ••• 1n' tho ouatr.l .amme. 1. 1986/87. 1987/88. »urln,; tb.t crui.e. ohloroph11l!. pr1ma1'1 production, krill ehooling e••011 .0 1t. populatlon atruotur•• pl.nktoll and benthoa oompooit1oa. and compo.1tion or fioh food ••ore atudi". - 52 -

Gd,6ak UDl.treitz. In,tltute of Oot.nogr,phz. Gdlnl. Baltl0 bloeeno.i, ,tudie' o..prl,'da bloenergetic of popul.tion. ot ~,1' m1%t •• ",idoth'. ente-an .nd B8rmoth., ••rsil monlt.. rin«-tlpe InYe.tigetion, ot chlDrDPhJll. phJto- .nd .Dopl,nkton, snd ..ero- .nd .'iobentlos ot Gd.6ek Ball numerie.l t.xenOMY ot Gd.6ek Bel phJtobtnthos, h*-1o sub.t••ce, distributlon 1. c08,tel eree• • t .Duthern Beltlol end erperiatntal .tudit. on the oo-pe­ tltloa ot .el.oted 'P401'. ot Beltl0 elge•• In poler regio••a '1 the di.trlbutlon••bundenoe eod 11t, elole. ot o.,.po4e tr~ th. Atle.tl0 .eotor er Anterotl0 end 21 tb, eo.posltlan e.4 dlstrlbutlon ot .eeple.kten 10 Arotl0 .attr,••ert .tvdled. Addltieael17. geo&r8phie.l dltt.renti.tloD ot Cerdium populetlons• ••• ,tudl8d.

Gd.tat UDi.,r.ltl. Dtp!rtm,nt of-Pl••t P!l.lnlogy. Gdjn18 In..stigetlon, .t th. laptot ot «rowth-pro-ot1Da DUDb.t.noes l«lbberelllns end auxln,l. ls01.ted trom Beltie ••ters. on the grllWth of ..rlne .1gee••ert eon'1nu.4.

Q4.~ek U.l.ereltz. ~lDloSlcel St.tloB et G6rkl"W.ehedmle Studle. er tbe role sod neture ot ,.leote4 ena7S8' In Beltio crust.o•••••ere ooatlnue4.

Unlnraitl of tNii., Depe!'hlent or Getlerlll Zoolon. 1.6dz Bentbos ot the Admiraltl BaI. 110« George I. IAnt.retleal .ere ,tud184. - 53 -

Agrieulturol Aeedemy, S.e~eoin Plenkton end benthos of the Szclecin Legoon end meiohentho. of .outhern Beltic .ore .tudied.

Polieb Acsdom: of Scieno••, Institute of oeeenolosz, Sorot In th. lete ~r duriag the crui•• of R/V "oe.enio" to Gr.enlond See tbe phyte- end looplankton In relotion to hydrographie eondi­ tian••ere .tudi.d. • Work .a. oontlnu.d on FEX'86 /Patohine•• Rrperim.nt/ r.ault. cono.rning di.l ehaage. In primor,r preduotiDD, chlorophyll ~. phyto- eDd ,Dopl.nktoD.

!b. problem of Puck Be7 r.cultiY8tlon .00 coa.lder.d.- Other lnT••tls-tloo. aonoerD.d seographiool .ad •••••a.l dlfteren­ e.s in bloche.iool· compo.itlon of ]altlc orgeei.... bloecau.ul.tloa eDd di.trlbution of aicroele.'Dt. In thelr bodle•• e••ell o. bio­ 10g1eel ond phy.ielogioel ••ohoaiom. of their edoptotlon to netu­ r.l ood oatk»opegeole ohangee ID .nTlreaa.otel ooodltieD••

Pol1eh Aoed'!l ef Soi.aco., Inotituto er BooloSZ: ••r••• Koterial. troa .u.tril .prlcl /.uamer /198&/87/ orul.o of R/V "Prefooor Slodleckl" to the ADtorctlc. eomprl.ing ohl.rophyll ~. phytopleaktoD. zoopleaktoo. beoterleploDkton. lchthyofeuno. tl.h pereeite•• epl101e eillete•• DDr cODceDtrotloDo. krill bioen.r­ getie ead.81gae growth experiment. -ere eleber.ted.

Institute 0' EDYiroDmeatsl Pr.tootIDn. Cdo6sk WIrk ••• cootiaue4 OD the Intoraotl'Del .onitoring programme In the' Baltie Soe~ Tbo problem Df recultlTotlon of Puck Ba7 .0. undertakoo. - 54 ­ PORTUGAL (T. Netol

Instituto Nacional de Investigacao das Pescas - 1987

1. PLA~KTO~

Process-oriented ichthyoplankton/recruitment studies have been continued on the portuguese coast. targetted at the egg te juvenile stages of sar­ dine.

Ichthyoplankton tows were taken on a monthly basis in four transepts (main spawning grounds) to evaluate the interannual variability of sardine spawning peaks.Coneurrent information on the thermie structure of the water column and zooplankton temporal patterns were also obtai­ • ned.

Two cruises were earried out on the Iberian Peninsula,by Portugal and Spain simultaneously. in order to loeate the offshore limit of sardi­ ne spawning grounds. Detailed hydrographie information as well as sa~ ples of potential larval food organisms and predators were also col­ lected. A preliminar analysis of the results obtained by both countries was done during a workshop held in Lisbon in order to plan a cruise for the assessement of sardine spawning population in the Iberian Peninsula using the Egg Production Method. Evaluation of the same stock will be performedsimultaneously by acoustics methods.

Studies on advection during the spawnlng season of sardine have been initiated in Portugal. Data from current moorings and from a survey carried on immediatly after the cruise to loeate the offshore limit of sardine spawning grounds were studied in order to have a better knowledge on water masses transport in the North eoast of Portugal in that period.

Surveys on temporal and spatial distribution of hake and horse-mackerel eggs and larvae along the Portuguese eoast were also performed. These surveys were complemented with hydrographie information.

The spatial and temporal patterns of phyto and zooplankton distribution sampled from research surveys (1985) along the Portuguese coast were exa mined showing a strong alignement with physical environment. - 55 -

Studies on coastal up~el1ing and its consequ~nc~s have been developed in cooperation with Spain. A survey performed by Portugal coordinated with another developed by Spain and direct observations on sea-Ievel, atmospheric pressure and wind from meteorological stations, estimation of upwelling daily indices (i.e. Bakun) and data from the deployment of current moorings contributed to compare upwelling structures along the Northwest coast of Iberian Peninsula. The dynamic of phytoplankton populations under upwelling conditions is beeing studied.

2. BENTHOS • 2.1 Phytobenthos Surveys on temporal and spatial distribution of subtidal populations of the agarophyte Gelidium sesguipedale have been continued on the Portugu~ se coast by using quadrate sampling and transect methods.

Data obtained led to the preparation of Gelidium bed charts and to the estimation of regional standing stocks, seasonal biomasses and speeies density.

Production and growth studies on tagged and cut plants of this species started on a monthly basis.

2.2 Zoobenthos

The benthic macrofauna of the Tagus estuary (Lisbon) has been studied since August 1987, as a contribution to the assessment of euthrophication impact to the whole ecosystem functioning.with special incidence on fish and mol­ luscan resources. The dynamics of some polychaete and bivalve species will be studied in the coming years.

The natural variability of some rocky intertidal species: Patella depressa. r.asp~Ia. P.vulgata. P.lusitanica, Gibbula umol1icalis. G.pennanti and Monodonta lineata, have been studied slang the portuguese coast sioce 1981. as a contributlon to the EEC COST 647 Programme. - 56 -

SPAIN (E. Lopez-Jamar)

A} PHYTOPLANKTON

I} In.tituto E.pa~ol d. Oc.anografi •• C.ntro Co.t.ro d. La Coru~.

Studie, on phytoplankton of the Gal icii.n contin.nt.. 1 shelf """re continu.d. Phytopl.nkton .i.. cl..... distribution w.. r.l.t.d to upw.ll ing condi tion•• Studi •• on P.O.H ••nd phytoplankton di.tribution r.l.t.d to abundanc. of larvae Ind adults of sardin. wer. p.rform.d. Th. roh of phytopl.nkton •• food .upplY for sardin. was osti",.hd through stomich cont.nt .ana.lysit.. 2) Instituto d. Inv.stigacion.s Marin" d. Viao • Phytoplankton .ampl .. from th. coast of G.I icll lnd A.turi.. w.r• • n.lyzod. T.",porll v.riltlon of phytoplankton of th. Ri. d. Vigo w.' studi.d; sampling was carri.d out twie ... wIek.

B} ZOOPLA'lKT()'.I

1) Jnstltuto Espa~ol d. OceanOQrafia. La Coruna .. nd Vigo Laboratori.s

Zoopl.nkton .tudi.s on th. contin.nt.l sh.lf off L. Coru~a Bay w.r. p.rfor",.d. In .dittion to routine oc ••nogr.phic plr.m.hrs, .bund.nc• • nd composition of ",icrozooplankton (20 to 100 um), and biom....nd compo.ition of mfSozoopl.nkton () 250 um} w.r. ostim.hd. Filtration rat.s wer, t'vilui.t.d by C-14 intubations, in ord.r to cllrry out ,.cendar)' production studi.s. Laboritory .ss.)'s l,r,l,r. c.rri.d out in ord,r \0 .stablish thf optimal conditions for intubation of .995 of th. swimrning v,hat trab, lioc!r'cinus pUbltr'.

Cl ICHTHYOPLANKTON

1) IO$tituto Espa~ol dp Ccpanogr'afia, La Co~u~a labo~ator'v

Several truis.s wert p.rformtd to ,valuate the t.mpo~al maxima of sardin. spawning in the Galtcian coast and to dtfin. tht ichthyoplankton compc5ition. A ,tud)' on th. spawning area of th. sardin. was carri.d out from th. Hi~o .stuary (north.rn Portugu.s. bord.r) to th. Eida.ol Riv.r (Bi.cay Bay). Upw.lling .ff.ct on fish larva. distribution was inv.stigat.d off Ria d. Arosl. - 57 -

1) ln~htut(\ E':[lai"lol deo Oceanogra..fia. La COr"ui'la Laborato!"'v

Astud)' on demograph)' ll'\d gametogenesis 0+ ttlt pol)'cha.t. Paradoneis armata, one of the dominant speelts in La Coru~a. Ba..-, \,/Jas cempl.tod.

Benthic studie, hav. t. ~n continu.d during 1987 in the continental sh.1f off Galicia, in rolation to coastal up",ol1ing and organic load from th. Rias. Hac:rcinfaunal c:olTllTlunities wtr. defined and rtla.ttd to sfdiment characteristics aod soure" of benthic .nrichment.

2) Instituto d. Investioaciones Marin!s de Vigo

Data from prtvious btnthic studi .. s on the ,ffeet of paper- mill wast. on an ir,. of Ria de Ponte~tdf"a wert processtd.

3) Departamento de 8iologia Animal. Univer"sida.d de Alcala de Ht'narfS, ~

Intortidal bonthic studios in tho Lapaman eoach, Ria do Pontovodra (NW Spain) wer. concluded. Community i~ eharac:teriz.d by 10l.Il spfei.s numb.r &nd div.rsity. Shor. 1.v.1, organie c:ont.nt, si1t eonte'nt and s&l inity w,rt th. main factors afftcting distribution. Studies cn taxonomy and biog&ography of Phoronida in the Ibe,..ian Peninsula and Bal.ar.s Islands are being carri.d out. A studY of b.nthic conwnuniti.s (int,r- and subtidal) of th. Pi.d~as Riv.r has just start.d. - 58 -

SWEDEN (L. Hernroth)

I(RIST INE8ERG MARINE 810LOGICAL STAT ION

Ouring 1987 the lang-term monitoring in the Gullmar fjord cf hydrography, plankton community and sedimentation continued. Emphasls was put on the relationships between hydrography, plankton production, advective processes, ~edimentati~n of organic material and oMygen consumption in the deep basin of the fjord. Shart term (days) and lang-term (years) zooplön~ton abundance was evaluatp.d with special attention to the rote and importance of advective processes in relation to enviranmental and biological factars. (Contact person: O. Lindahll The grazlng and egg-production of calanoid copepods has been • studied in field and meSQCQsm experiments. The objective i5 to determine the factors that influence the feeding and egg­ production of copepods. The studies have focused on size, abundance and physiological stale of the algae as potentiall\' lmportant factars. Mortalltv of copepad eggs has been estimated in the field uSlng different technlQues. A met~od to estlmate the age of copepod eggs i5 under development.

Studies on the populatIon dynamics of the scyphozoans Aurelia ~~~l!e' ~Y!~~~ ~~Qlll~!~ and ~~ l§p~!~~ll with 5pecial------­ emphasis on the planula larvae and the polyps were carried out in the Gullmar l' jord. In 1987, the main paint5 af interest were recruitment, settling b~haviour and larval interactions with the marine hard battorn cemmunities. The preject includes beth field and laboratory e~periments. (Contact per~on: F. Gröndahl)

Lang-term trends 1n 61ga] domInated rac~y subtica! ccmmunities on the Swed1sh west coast were monitored w1tn specIal emphasis to the role of ma=roalgae in the overall nutrient balance of the ceastal water. (Contac1 persons: L. ~~elsson, C. Lars~on, T. Lund~lv)

In a project tltlpd "Dlstribution of macra-algae o~ ~ubtld~l hard ~ubstrat8, Eco10giCbl Effect~ cf a!~a~ epl~tl~t~~ ~nd ~plf~una5 ana te~ts cf hypothese~ re~6rdln; the-:r v~~l)ca) reductl~n in ~l~tributlon" cor,?ar:~ons ~lt', early lnvestig~tlons in 1°26-29 by Gl~!~'n In 50~~ Swedls~, fjords arf n.ade. The prOJe~t al~o ln... olvp~ e>.per:rr:-r,toi o:.tudlE"S of tt-e effe t~ of (Clul1r'9 or tf e SeC.-aö l :'§11~!"'!'~ ~..;.l.!r:J~Q~~ ..,nc.l !!:\=~.! y E) er Hf::·nt.,;: st .... dles. 0« fci:: =r~ r fl"'ctlrtr''l rtf· v,·rt) -=1 C1:c-t, lt'ltl-· ... r1 ,Ti"(rr'-i-l':":!1~ ~r'I"I. - 59 -

Marine eutrphication has been studied in a multi-diciplinary project in the Kattegatt since 1983 comprising studies cf nutrient circulation and effects on benthic fauna and fish. Several universities and i~stitutes take part in the project. The scienti$ts at KristineberQ have mainly been involved in assessing the impact cf eutrophication O~ benthic communities, ~~Q~tQC~ D~~~~gi~~~, fi5h and oxygen deficiency. 5ince 1986 the impact studles have been extended to include coastal areas in the Skagerrak as weIl. (Contact personSl R. Rosenberg, L.O. Lae. S.P. Saden, L. Pihll

Soft-sediment bentho~ was monitored off the Swedish west coast within the framework of the Swedish Environment~l ~onitoring Programme (PMKI. (Contact person: A. Josefson)

Large seale t~mporal c~anges in the b~nthos w~re investigated by re~ampling stations in several Swedish fjords and coastal areas in the 5kagerra~; previously visited in 1976 and the 20­ ies. (Contact persons: A.B. JosFfson, R. Rosenberg)

Adult-larval interactions: An l~=~j~~ e~perimpntal approach to test the influence cf adult de~sity on recruitm.nt inte ~ soft-bottom marin~ c~mmunity i~ carried cut. (Contact persons: W.A. Crcwp, A.8. Josefscn, I. SV6ne)

Aspects cf ascldian larval release. dispersal, behaviour, larval predation and larval-adult interactions are studied in quantitatlvely important subtidal ascidian populations in the Gullmar fjord. The project includes experimental manipulations of epifaunal communities using underwater stereophotography and conventional j~=~j~y techniques as weIl as laboratory studies cf cultured larvae. (Contact persons: I. Svane, J.N. Havenhand)

Morphogenetic processes. and ecological i~plications of metamorphosis cf a5cidia~ larva are also studied. Thi~ includes characterization cf ~pecific "factors", involved i~ general metamorphosis a~d intracepsular meta~~rpn~sis by a bas~line study of the major events in compa~i~on wit~ a) ffietamor~hosis under the influence of tissue e~tr~ctSt ~) th~ ~cological implications of pr~vious]y observeG respo~ses including 5urvivor~hip cf factor-irduced meta~orphs~ the effect of "adult-factor", and t~e inp~rtan~e of gEretlc variations in thE ti~~L'e E~tract rps~onsc (]a~val di5crimination). (Contact persons: J.l~. Havenhand, A. J~rgens~n. I. Svane) - 60 -

TJ~RN6 MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION

Monthly monitorlng of hydrographie parameters, nutrlents a~d phytoplankton in the ~osterf jord has b~en carried Out. This programme has been running since 1981. (Contact person: 8. Re)

Behaviour and feeding ecology of protoioans. (Corltact person: P. Jonson)

Population dynamics studies wlthin groups of meiofauna. CContact person: P. Nilssan)

T~~onomiCt ecological end evolutiorlary stud)e~ witt,in 11ttorlnid gastropods. (Contact person: K. Johannesson) • Taxonomie studies within Phyllodocidae (Polychaeta). (Contact person: F. Pleij~l).

DEPARTMENT OF MARINE ECOLOGY, U IVERSITY OF LUND

During 1987 phytoplan~ton monitoring along :~e Swedish Skagerrak CO~5t continued. Special studJes on dinoflageJlatp dynamics and response to varying nutr"")E'nt c.ondltions wel E performed in mesocosm experiments (160 to 2060 I plast ic bagsl.

During June and September 1987 a number of !~=~!~~ ekperiments were per~ormed in mesocosms in the Gullmar fjord. The purpose was to try to answer the followirlg questions: A) Are the diatoms and the dinoflagellates in the Bohuslän coastal area limited by the same macronwtilent? B) Are the diatoms and the dinoflagellates af~ected bv hu~lC material in tlle same manner? C> During the autumn the natural chyto~lan~tc~ C~M~~nl\ iES are often dominated by dinoflag~11ates (e.Q .• n SEptc~:~r lQS7 dinoflagellötes made up almest 100', of ,;r.e ph)tc~li:Y.; ~~-..", community). Is the dino'flagellate oomin~nce c.a."l~ed t'y chemlcal conditions (rr,öcronutrie-nts, tl-6ce lT,,:tc.ls. öllelopatic substar,cEs) or by other regLllati"""1l; factc.r! • .=-=. e.g. selective Qrazing? . 0> Cun the dJnof16ge!]ates n.igl-i

In thi? ilutunn uf 1°67, )nten~)ve ~tLldIP':: (".1 l1.'-~"d·!.-.,J("'I~·\ pOlsonlng 01 mussc:l~ herl? al~~ rurr lt.:';j rll T • (rr-ntiic-t r·pr~,:,n"·: l rd'l?l. t". r·,. . .-.1'. F. - 61 -

ASKÖ LABORATDRY. UNIVERSITY DF STOCKHOLM

Since 1984, the Swedish Environmental Monitoring Programme (PMK) has one station for pelaglc monitoring in the coastal area off the Askö Laboratory (Station 81). The station is visited about 25 times per year and the programme includes chlorophyll 2' phytoplankton identification and counting and primary production measurements. (Contact person: U. Larsson)

In the leeal monitoring programme in a gradient fram a nutrient enriched bay, Hlmmerfjärden, to Station BI, cl,lorophyll ~, phytoplankton identification and counting and primary production have been investigated about 25 times per year since ]976.

From both the Himmerfjärd station and Station BI zooplankton larger than 90 ~m have been identified and caunted since 1976 as paft of the Ioeal monitoring programme. Limited investigations concerning the vertical distribution of zooplankton and the abundance of smaller zooplankton 135 to 90 pm, mainly ciliates) are included in the programme. (C~ntact person: S. Johansson)

Soft-bot tom macrofauna was monitored off the Swedish east­ coast within the framework of the Swedish Environmental Monitoring Programme

An evaluation of earlier and recent soft-bottom macrofauna data has been star ted as part of an evaluation of the state of the environment along the Swedish coast of the Baltie proper. (Contact person: H. Cedprwall)

Within the project "Factcrs strueturing a species-poor benthic community in the Baltie Sea", exper1ments were conducted concerning the €ffect with which benthlc amphipods of the genus eQQtQQQC~i~ utilize the bottom dp.posits and Its bacterial content. Tne experiment5 w~re conducted 1n coop~ratJon wlth prof. G. Lopez, 5tate Un1v. of New Yor~. (Contact person: R. Elmgren)

WJthln thE proj~ct "E~rly Sig'1S of eutrophication 1n the Gulf of Bothnld - changes in thE soft-botton fauna Slnce tne IQ20s end 19S(ls", 13 ~tatlons In lhe Aothnlü" Bö)', eö.-ller s,JfT;Jj(~ 1n 1923. werc reVlo::.l ted. 1n all, 61 sto:'lC'n~ ,=ün.~Jt:d In t~,r.. jc;"2(lc- 't,~. f-Ir-Of'" lr' ,--,,-0 ?I ': tat 1("1,-,,: "'<~l""pl'"'''' 1", ~""f'" !~<=:Ir ':-. - 62 -

evaluation of the results have started. IContact pprson: H. Cpdprwall)

Within thp local monitoring programmp for thp bay Himmerfjärden, annual zoobenthos monitoring, which started in 1972. was continued. (Contact person: U. Larsson)

REPORT OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ON PLANKTON AND BENTHOS AT TIlE NORRBY LABORATORY. UNIVERSITY OF UMEA, SW[D(~.

Department of Microbiology

Studies of the microbial food web. Specific projPcts are,

I. Ouantification of flow rates within and betwpen different trophic levels. The study is focused on development of new and conventional methods.

2. Identification. characterizatlon and turnover of macro­ moleculps (e.g. amino acids. proteins and DNA) in seawater.

3. Identification of bacterial groups/species using DNA­ hybridization tpchniques.

4. Turnover of phosphorus. This study is focused on frpe DNA as a pool of available pher~~or~r. for heterotrophie and autotrophic baeteria. Contaot person: A. Hagströ"l Department of phys1caJ. geography

Studies on the phosphate turnover in pelagie phytoplankton and bacteria populations. Contaet person: M. JanssQn Department of ecolog1cal zoology

Basic research on macro-benthos mainly concerns population ecolcgy and questions cQ&cerning life-history theory. The species so far involved are Mesidotea entornon (Isopoda) and pontoporeia affinis (Amphipoda). The purpose with the life­ history part is to analyse causes for the variation in age and size at maturity (between different areas) in these species. Interactions between fish and macrofauna are studied as apart of the above research programme.

Benthic macrofauna are also studied annually within an environmental monitoring programme (PHK).

Contact person: K. leonardsson - 63 -

UNITED KINCDOM England and Wales (K. Brander!

A. Ministry of Agriculture Fishe-ries and Food. Lowestoft

1. Herring larvee surveys

The [ngllsh participation in the international herring larvae surveys south of' 62°N has continued wi th surveys of the southern North Sea and English Channel in January and of the central North Sea in September/October. In the southern North Sea and eastern Channel. 1arvae production continued to increase up to the winter 1986/87, but early indications from the 1987/88 spawning are that production has Ieveiled off with a sllght reduction in the eastern Channel. The autumn • 1987 surveys in the central North Sea show a slight decrease in larvee production overall. Whilst production in the Loogstone and North East Bank areas has increased, production off the Yorkshire coast and at the Dowslng has declined. It 18 encouraging to note the continued and increasing occupation of the old spawning grounds along the western edge of the Dogger and in the vicinity of the North East Bank, which begain in 1985.

The eoncurrent eeological studies. reported last year. have contlnued in both survey areas. These studies have included observations cr growth. mortal1ty, drift and feeding of herring 1arvae in the central North Sea in 1987.

A survey of overwlntering herring larvae in the area between 53°15' and 54°1S'N was carried out in January 1988 as part of the ACE project. Very large numbers of larvae (up to 24 per m') ranging in atze from 10 to 40 mm were caught off the Dutch coast.

The small plankton survey of the herring spawning area south-esst of the lsle cf Man made 1n September 1986 was repeated at a similar time In 1987. The results of thls single survey show a drastlc reduction in larvae production compared wi th 1986.. However no conclusions relating to the stock in that area should be drawn frorn such a llmited coverage.

2. Nephrops larvae surveys

A total of six larvae surveys of the Nf:Ophrops hatching areas off the north-east coast of England was conducted between early May and August. The expected pattern of seasonal production in the area w1 th a peak in May was not observed. Larvae production was instead confined to the period between June and August wl th a peak in mid-July. Total productlon • of stage I larvae was about one third the value observed during the previous surveys of the area In 1976. The posslbillty of blennlal spawning by Nephrops in this area may provide the explanation to the different pattern of larvae production observed in 1987.

The plankton survey data has also been used to Identify the major spawning ground or- herring, and N~rhrops hatch1ng areas in the North Sea - 64 -

and off the Isle cf Man. These data have provided an important input to impact assessment in relation to requests for al ternative uses cf the sea bed in these areas.

3. Irish Sea reeruitrnent study

Fieldwork on a joint progral'lme by lMER Plymouth and r.:AFF Lowestoft began in spring 1987 to investigate the possible causes cf low recruitment levels for several f1sh species in the Irish Sea. Studies included size fractionated primary production in different light regimes; vertieal structure and feeding relationships; horizontal variability in hydrographie and plankton regirnes; condi tion of sprat and eod larvae in relation to available food organisms ; identifieation of predators on fish larvae. The general hypothesis being tested 1s that the cause of low recruitment compared with the North Sea lies in the tirning and nature of the produetion eyele. In 1988 rnore detailed work 1s planned to investigate the food available to cod and sprat larvae and what factors may be restricting production. •

INSTITUTE OF OCEA~OGRAPHIC SCIE:NCES DEACON LABORATORY EIOLOGICAL OCEA~OGRAPHY

The data frorn the abyssal stat10n 300 miles west of ~adeira have been sUMlllarised in an lOS Report (No. 248). An analysis of profiles of biornass 1n the Azores Current region in the vie1nity of 30·N 30·W is in the final stages of preparation for publ1eation. It will show that there a!'e rnarked ehanges 1n the vertieal distribution of plankton end micronekton across an oceanic front, that the micronekton aggregates with1n the front, and that d1el vert1eal migration is likely to rnake a s1gnifieant eontribution to the export of earbon from the euphot1c zone and the redistribution of nitrate scress the nutricllne.

Benthic studies have demonstrated the irnportanee of sedirnent feeding holothur1ans in the rernoval of phytoplanktonie detritus seasonally depos1ting on to the abyssal sea floor. Certain agglutinating foraminiferans have been shown to aetively migrate up into newly deposited detritus, whereas others rernain within the sed1ment. These very abundant and species- r1ch (120 spp per 2cm eore) together with nematodes make up 90% of all meiofauna in abyssal sediments. Studies on their nutrition have been 1nitiated. A zoogeographie study of benthopelagie fishes at abyssal depths revealed a change 1n eOMlllunity eomposition assoe1ated with the southern lim1t of deep w1nter mix1ng of the surfaee waters. This implies that there 1s a much cleser l1nk between surface product1on cycles and deep abyssal eOllllllunit1es than h1therto reeognised. - 65 -

It is proposed to initiate a programme to examine the effeets that variations in deep winter mixing have on the eommunities both within the water eolumn and on the sea floor. lihlle this ~rogra=e will provlde irr.portant information fo'r BOFS (th~ U.K.·s flux programme whieh complements GOFS and JGOFSI. 1t is concelved as an independent but complementary programme.

The department is also eontributing directly to the BOFS programme. particularly in modelling fluxes and in the bullding of sediment traps. A crulse planned for sun'!1er 1988 will seek to compore profiles of standlng­ crop of pelagic organlsms. ~artlcles as sampled by an In slt.!!. large volurne pump system and fluxes as measured by sediment traps.

A crulse on RRS Discovery in summer 1987 involved physiological work on bioluminescence, swirnming dynamics in pelagie spectes, microbial grazlng experiments. An insulated closlng cod-end devlee ~rovided s~eclmens in excellent condltion on a routine basis.

A desk top study into the posslble environmental impact of disposing large-bulk low-toxicity wastes (e.g. sewage sludge and dredge spoil I suggested that discharge at depths of 4000m dlrectly into the benthlc boundary layer would have minimal envlronmental impact. As an alternative option to shallow sea dumping both dlrectly and via outfalls it merits serious if careful consideration particularly for heavily util1sed shallow sea areas such as the North Sea.

Institute for M~1rinc Environm('ntal Research (Plymouth Harine Laboratori,"s)

Following the withdrawal of the major oceanic rautes during 1986 the survey routes were concentrated in the north-eastern European shelf aod adjoining oceanic waters (Fig. 1). The survey was maintained on the same basis of sampling at monthly intervals as in previous years; adding to the time series of data of 40 years. During 1987 Recorders were towed over 47,000 miles by ships of seven nations (Denmark, France, Ieeland, Cermany, Norway,

Republie of Ireland and the United Kingdom) • The future scientieie basis and emphasis of the survey was expanded significantly this year with the development and deployment of a fully instrumented towed vehicle based on - 66 _

asolid state data logger. As part of an Admiralty Research Establishment

(MOn) contract the sensor package was developed and deployed in the suumer

manths on the 'X' route, fram Northern Ireland to Ocean Weather Station

'Lll1A· .. The CPR on this route was equipped with sensors to measure

temperature, fluoreseenee, depth and 4 light ehannels (2 upwelling and 2

downwelling). Data Wltl-(. collected every 30 seconds alang the -350 mile tow

and stored on the 128K solid state data logger. Instrumented CPRs are

currently beiog deployed on the A, LR and t1 routes as part of the

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Autumn Circulation

Experiment (ACE) .. The data collected on the 'M' route (Aberdeen to

Stavanger is shown in Fig. 2.

The tlain feature of-the results from the CPR in reeent years (from 1980)

has been the continued increase in abundance of both phytoplankton and

zooplankton (Fig. 3).

A full annual report will be supplied on application to the Director,

Institute for Marine Environmental Research, Prospect Place, The Hoe,

Plymouth PLI 3DH, England • - 67 -

20 W 10 W o 10 E

60 N 60

50 N 50

CPR SURVEY 1987 ROUTES - 68 -

C.P.R. SURVEV DECEMBER 1987 M TOW

OEPTH .~

.L.-----:=:---500 TIME llio4IN$1

Fluo~eSCENCE

1 OOWNWELLING OOWNWELLING ''''''T 8LUe LIGHT GREEN .., ·11 I[ 1 ] ;"tl ~ r •I

I uPWElL1NG l.!PWELLING ''''''T 8LUE I LIGHT GREEN !tJ~ ~ t-',,,,~.~ .' .j . \ , ! z I iü 1 I" , Li :-- '--- 0-- .-- I'"0J' 3.

PhyGoplon~to~. first Component or Area Components

camp

• !

Zooplonk~on. Areos. Specles. Yeors - Components

camp - 70 - SCUOOL OF OCEAN SClENCES

This first year or the Sehool or Oeean Seieneee h.. been one or great excitement and hard work lor the marine selenee c:ommunity 8t Henel Bridge. Ye have now campleted the ataff expansion of Oceanography under the recent VGG initiative and have made good progrees in bringing the two marine-baud departmentB together Into an effective whole. Thi. haa involved mueh actlve dilcussion Bnd pl.nning of Gur future act!vltiea in te.ching end research . particularly in the interdi.cipltnary are.e where we are now 80 weil placed to make innovative contrlbutiona in research. There heve a180 been eonsiderable ehangee in the management arrangements ror the laboratory .. the College'. nev coat centre procedurea have come Into operation end we hav. endeavoured to computeri•• our accounting procedur•••

The expanaion in the number of ataff end Itudenta 1. putting increaalng pres.ure on our accommodatlon butt happily, 80IDe of thl. viii be relieved somewhat in the autumn when the UCC-funded expansion of tbe Cr.lg Mair bullding 11 completed. A UCC vlaiting group in February examined aur needa for major capital eQuipment, especially in the expansion of aur MArine Chemiltry facil!tie•• Cood progress ba. already been made In setting up lome of tbe • new analytical .ystems that we need butt •• thla va. an are. vhere ve atarted from e modest equipment base, tbere ia .til1 e lang vay ta &0 end ve .vait the UCC deci.ion on our bid with some aaxiety though we were eneouraged by their positive eommentl on the development of the sehool and their encouragement to UI to proceed further in the Itrengthening of the Schaol to an academic atarr or at leaat 30.

With so much internal change and development It i. gratifying to see that our reaeareh aetivitiea have been auatained and aigniCleantly expanded In lome areal. Dr Barton's work on upwell1ng .Yltem8 ha. been further recognlsed by NERG with an award or [73,006 to atudy the Tehuantepee upwelling ayste.. on the Paeifle coa.t of Mexlco. Thia award follow. an earl1er one whlch involved a seatime programme in October 1986 to .tudy upwell1ng of the Iberian peninsula. Other new research grant8 obtalned during the "ear lnelude an SERC award or U5,700 to Dr Ceorge Floodgate for work on baeteria-generated g.. bubblee in marine sedimenta in eonjunetion w1th O"rord Univeralty Department or Civil Engineering, a Royal Soe1ety grant or [6,070 to Dr Jamea Scourse for a study of Quaternary climate cyeles at the north-ealt Atlantlc margin and a NERG Reeeareh Grant or [22,784 to Dr Andy Yule ror work on inter-apecHic aeleetivity and inter-larval relationahip or barnacle cyprlds during aettlement.

OUr Applied Oeeanography wing UCES contlnue to prolper wlth an .nnual tocome of ~t170K based on a wide-range of industrial contraet.. It haB been partieularly pleaaing to aee thia aetiv1ty eontinulng to grow even through aperiod or sharply redueed oil prieea. Withln the hydroearbon explOitation area a joint Anglo-lriah research projeet ia underway to develop instrumentation to measure the engineering propertiea of marlne aediments. The work is supported by the EEG, the Br1tiah side being led by Dr Angela Davis. Again, within the offahore hydrocarbon. ..ctor, • coll.borative relearch programme with the Univer8ity of Chent ha. been eatabliahed to be directed by Dr Davis with EEC funding. Dr Davia took part earller in the year in an Oxford Universlty ahort course for indultry on new methode of civil engineering site Investigatlon wlth particular reference to off.hore areas. - 71 -

Jt has bceon something cf arecord year lor seagoinR with foul' major crul.~. on NERC vesscls in addition :I rull rrogrammc y('ar on the MadoR_ A partieular highspot has been the interdisciplinary progra"lJllC undertaken by members cf the school to study island mixing processes in the Indian Ocean from the RRS Charles Darwin. Two cruiscH each of one month'a duration have been dedicated to this prograrTUTlc "'hieh extends previous studies. of analogou8 processes in shelf seas by Professor Simpson and Or Tett. The ship survey was concentrated on the regions around the Is1ands of Aldabra and Cosmoledo8 which lie in the path of the southern equatorial current. Stirrln-g by the islands perturbs the flew and the alm of the atudy 18 to determine the nature of thls perturbation and the attendant mi.lng whlch Is hypotheslsed to bring about increased production in the surface layers.

As both truises started from l>lauritius. membera of the School were able to visit the University there and discuss development8 in Harine Stienee wlth Professor I Fagoonee. The possibllitles of a link between the College and the university of Mauritiua were explored in detail during a vi.it by Profesaor Taylor Smith to the Island under the ausplees of the Brltlsh Coune11. Whlle there. he was also able to provide adviee to the Kauritian Covernment on geotechnical problems in examining • number of aitee where surface degradation had occur1'ed.

Other members of the department have also travelled extensively to propagate the research work of the department and establish nev links in teaching and 1'esearch. Dr Alan Davies and Profea.or Simpson vtalted the Shandong College of Oceanography at Qingdao, China. in November for a eonferenee on ahallow sea Oceanography and to diseuss mutual interests in the Yellow Sea with Chineae oceanographers. tater in the year Dr Alan Eillott was the gueet of the Shanghai Meteorologieal Centre "here he gave a number of lecturea on wave predletlon.

Dr David Jones described his work on the feeding of prawns to the Firlt Inter Ameriean Congress on Aquaculture at Salvador Brazil and at the National Universlty of Taiwan in September. He also presented a paper at the World Aquaculture Soclety meeting in Ecuador in January and toured local hatcherles to give advice on the us. of art1fleial feeds. In August 1986 he partlclpated in research diseussions at the lnstituto de eieneta. Marina. de Andalucia. Puerto Real. Cadiz. Spatn. His eollaboration vith Unilever Research and Frlppak Feeds continues to provlde a valuable stimulus and supprt to the work of the laboratory.

HI' Ivor Rees presented two papers on reeent work 1n the Irieh Sea at the EEC CaST 647 Workshop at Corruna Spaln in Oetober and also partlelpated in an EEC sponsored exereise to test an In-situ sediment profile at Calway in Hay. MI' Rees. of course. continues his well-sponsored Inveltigationl of the environmental impact of eommerelal activities In the Irish Sea.

Dr Alan Davies has again visited the Department de Phy.ique deI Systemes Desordonnes. University of Provence thls summer for one month to conttnue theoretieal work and laborstory experiments on the propagation of surface waves over uneven topography.

Dr Ceorge Floodgate presented a paper on marine frontal systems to the 4th International Symposium on Hicrobial Eeolagy in Yugoslavla.

The British Couneil sponsored a viait by Professor SimpBon to southern India for a lecture tour and to report on the potential for links between Bangor and several marine-orientated institutes in the state of Kerata. - 72 -

As the above snmple ol visits m3kt's pl.:Jin wco :Ire bC'C'ominr. incre8singly tnvolvt"d in intern.1.tional c:ollaborations. This has obvious f('SCc1fCh bl"nefit8 r"r the laboratory. but perhaps of equal Importance in the pre6ent finaneial climate is the stimulus to OyerSC3S studt"nt recrultment whieh these visita represent. Therc has already been a significant upturn in our overseas student numbers especially at the post·graduate level and we are hopeful that this trend will continue.

Dur expertise in shellfish culture 18 becorning of inereasing importance in relation to the mariculture industry. Andy Beaumont organised the Sixth International Scallop Workshop whieh was held here in April and presented two papers on seallop genettes. He also presented papers on this theme to the Nioth Halaeologieal Congress in Edinburgh in September and to the Eighteenth Annual Shellfish Conferenee in London in May.

Mem'>ers of the Sehool have been active in promoting the welfare of the martne stienee eommunity within the UR. Professor Wl1liams haa been eleeted to the Council of Harine Biologieal Assoeiation and Hr Edward Bill to the Conrmittee of the Challenger Society. Professor Simpson has been appolnted Chairman of the Scientific Steering Commlttee Cor the NERC North Sea Community Programme. a major neW Research Council initiative in Interdi8clpllnary research. • A large group of stalf and students from the Scheol attended the Oceanography 86 conference at Southampton and contributed a number of talks and poatera. This biennial eonferenee series whieh started wirh Physieal Oeeanography 84 at Bangor Is becoming a foeal point for the UR Oceanographic cammunity. Dr Alan Davies was a member of the organising cOD1Dl.ittee.

The Sehool has, again, enjoyed the beneHt of the visir of an lOS adentist for a week of seminars and discussions. Th!. yeBr'l viiitor from. the Proudman Oce.nographic Laboratory (formerly lOS Bidston) was Dr Peter Thorne who discussed recent developments of acoustic techniques for the mea.urement of sediment transport. We also had many other visitor. including the Rt Hon Wyn Roberts, the Rt Hon Neil Kinnock, Dr Charle. Yent8ch of the Bigelow l.aborat"ry, Haine, USA, Dr Patriek Bolligan of HBA Plymouth, Profeaoor Rubio Rayo, Reetor of the University of the Canaries, Profeoaor Ron Edwarda WlST, Dr Julian Priddle, Brirish Antaretie Survey, Cambridge, Dr J Lyk.kia of the University of Patras and Dr Zlake koveric of the Centre for Marine Research. Zagreb. Yugoslavia, Hr William Wilkinson, Chairman of the Nature Conlervancy Council. Professor J-P Henriet of the Univeralty of Chent. and Profe••or N H Csdsama from Nigeria. - 73 -

UNITED KINGDOM Scotland

( J. Gamble)

I. ~1srh<, Lab"ratöry Fi..ld Inv<'stiaallcln! on Herring Larvae Analysis of data on th" verlical distribution er h"rring lat\'ae in the "ieinit)' of a Lagranglan marker d~rloyee. off th~ r.orth of Seotland in Septembef 1986, was conlinued in 1987. Tb.. results indicated strong correlatior.s between !l.e average depth of IIIrvae and the ,'erticel aggre.ation ef the p,'puhtio!l, and the ,Urface light lnlensit)' and wind stre.s. Tbe lanae were more aggre"ated and closer tq the sUrface d~ring dsylight than at night. Strong winds ("sused the larvae to be mqre dispereed through the water column.

Open sea investlgations In 1987 wer" eoncentrated on the Autualn. Circulation Experiment (ACE), TMs is a combined hydrographie and biological study of the North Sea during the overwintering perlod of h"rrlng larNe. The bloloaical program was conceived by sclentlsh from Aberdeen and Ch..rloltenbnd (Denmark) and formed an IREP type study of the overwinter drift and sunlnl of herrlng I.,vae. Tbe bacle ACE prograrn wiII be e"fmined "t a worluhop to be held in Abe.deen in M,,}' 1988.

Predatlon ..nd Nutrition,,1 Experiments On Herring Luvae Ty,'o serles of experim"nts were earriedation by nlne month olJ juv..n!l" herrin.;. Parallel laborato')' e~periln..nts ..... "r" carrie

Pr'!'limlnarr rearlng e~l'erimenU wer", earri{:d O'-lt us:ng microencapsul(ted diets. Lar,·,. irew veri" slowlr on Ihis artiCicial cUet but survive·1 rar better th~ stuved individual.. Th.. leehni1u" is being invesligated further. - 74 - Benthic Research Res~a.!ch in th~ past Y~i\r lt.l~ (ocus~d pr~mi'..ril}' {'In t~e eco1ogy (.r a shal1·)w sublittoral habit at on the west CQ3St o( Sc"tl"nc!. ~ir.g a ccmY:lC\tion ('I! a ~);-monthly 5ampling pr0li:ram (\J~d mal'Jfpulath'e Cield e~perlm(!nts the roJ~ of predation as a Gtruclurlng force in the benthic comlOunity is being investigated. In addition, an extensive description 01 the benlhic communities 01 the northern f':orth Sea h.u b..en btoughl alnlosl to completlonj pulic::ation oe the remaillir.b pat~s of th~b~ dati\ 15 antidp.lted in the near future.

SCOTTISH MARINE 8IOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DUHSTArFNAGE, OBAN

Researc.J) at SJo;SA is current.ly beln; n)structl!r~ in terms of se:ven :r.ain proj~C't5 of {-·..blel, t/Je follo ....·1tH} arci ot J.'a=t.icL.J1~r 11Jterasc t:::> the lC;;S Diol?gical OJ;:edll;.J~l-ap."y Comrnir.cae : CO~lstal Ocetanoqraphv and 8101ogical P=oducc.io:j • TI.e m,dn al." !s to quantify tlle pllysical and b!ologie,l prOCe5geS controlling LC(iHl~fe.r oi prlmary productlon CO consume:s in pelag1c ~nd bentlli:; ecu.systems 11' ScottisJl coas::al ~nd sllelf Sttl1.i.

2. Organic degradation in sediments: procosses am1 conSlI?guence.

The mai:l alm 15 CO quantlE'y lind st.ud~ pro=esees Ctmt:-ol;'ing th&-dtJgI4rJa.:.f.on o[ ()!.·(j~f1Jit: mattpr 1r. marine seaiments ~,nd tlle conseqliellces of taosB pl.ut.:ess~s rOl.' t/Je sedinent81.'!J envil'onrnent, (luxes to an" frore t:b,e oV/Jcll;ing Wdte..:· ewd fvr tho distribution, productio!1 and survival ol b&ntWc flluna. ~.S$ocl(tted lnvtJ$liyet.tlons concern CllO envlz'oruile.'1tal eltects oE ,,"u4culcure iu c·:)ast41 ~·aters.

3. EcophU5icloqy and beh6viou~ of fish

The i.lain alms are li tO detcr:r.ine tJle behaviour..l1 r.JechanJ.sms regulatilJ~ l'r8t.ftttion on and by flsh c!ud Lheil: larv"e; 2) to detormine hOtll the l;"havlour allel d!stribu:loll ot ti.~1: ~nd tl.e!r larva& ~re reguIated by r:lHlir 1~If:H:llanOreCQpt.tve,buovancl) and osrnotic control r.lechanisms.

ThG OChel" projeccs ara entit~Cfd

4. FUl1';"!;,!Ol1dl ecoloqt.; of ln~hore benti~.1.~ CO:71.7lunities

5. !'lie ~e:)::.!:1c and ber.t!~L"!>elagic C"I':vi':-O:jt':it:'llt (ol eh'J' Rockall Troug~ ,,-:et1). .s~ructu;e tI!d c.!yn!!r.:.t.c.c: ot p~>pu;.2t.tons.

Co. :\."r-~~. ("('llurm. SC=-ti.:-t"ure and c!yn~:-ics C'T J:l,:J~a 'md h ..... CQ.C ma!ißDs (of r:1J~ Ro;,;:xrtll Trough ~.,rIl:Hi).

7. ~utritional rhysiol~gu c~ fls~, - 75 - •

U.S.A. (M. SISSENW1NE AND M. REEVE)

Fishrrirs Ecos)'strm In\"(~stigations (l\1, Sissrnwinr)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Center (NEFq, Sandy Ilook Laboratory, Sandy I look, N.J.: The Jchthyoplankton Assessment Investigation at Sandy Hook completed the 11th eonsecu­ tivc year of lehthyoplankton surveys to investigate factors controlling variability in fish stocks in thc 260,000 km2 Northeast Continental Shelf Eeosystem between Capc llatteras, North Carolina, and Cape Sable, Nova Seotia. In addition to their eontribution to fishery eeosystems research, thc surveys provide data for fishery independent estimates ofadult spawning biomass of eeonomicalfy and eeologically important finfishes. In 1987 twelve sur­ veys werc eompleted. A total of3000 ichthyoplankton/zooplankton sampIes were col­ lected, along with observations on temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a. Sampies taken during Srring and early summer on thc ichthyoplankton surveys werc used to derivc an estimatc 0 thc adult spawning biomass of Atlantle mackere!. This multina­ tional effort was sueeessfully earried out in eooperation with Canada and roland, whieh provided ships and seientifie personnel to eonduet survey o/?erations. Rapid turnaround in sorting was provided by thc rolish Sorting Center in Szezeem. Feeundity studics and matunty-at-Icngth estimates werc eompIeted by NEFC personncl from mackerel taken in both U.S. and Canadian waters. Results indicate that the spawning biomass ofAtlantie maekercl remains near 1985 levels as determined by VPA. Thc egg-based assessment es­ tablished thc biomass at 1,102,600 metric tons (mt), with thc bulk of thc population spawn­ ing in Canadian waters. Spawners in United States waters aecounted for 123,000 mt; thosc in Canadian waters 979,600 mt. NMFS, NEFC Laboratory, Narragansett, RI: Analyses of direet observational studies using a submersible on the eeology ofjuvenile eod and haddoek werc eompleted. Thc studics werc eondueted on Georges Bank Jointly with thc RV Delaware Il, the Canadian research vesscl RVAlfred Needler, and thc Delta Sub­ mersible and support vesscl 1. IV. Powell. Juvenilc eod were very abundant whilc haddock, although present, werc in relatively low numbers. Observed fecding and diurnal behavior was similar for both speeics. Their prineipal prey werc swarms of euphausiids and hyperiid amphipods. Signifieant numbers of predators werc in thc vieinity; sca ravens and sculpins werc fecding heavily on thc juvenilc gadoids. The operation provided important new in­ formation on the vertieal dimibution of eod and haddoek juveniles and their vulnerahility to several different sampling gear and their predator-prey mteraetions. A final repolt to the EPA was eomplcted on flounder research. Over 550 juvenile winter flounder were eolleeted at seleeted sites throughout Narragansett Bay. Thc ohjeetives of the study were: (1) to determinc if there werc any differenees in growth and eondition of young-of-year (YOY) winter flounder from different areas of Narragansett Bay, and (2) to determine if any ohserved differenees werc eonsistent with thc involvement of pollutants. ReMJlts showed differenees in sizc, relativc liver weight, disease ineidenee, and bioehemkal eomposition among YOY winter flounder eolleeted at different loeations in Narr

The data suggest that growth and eondition of YOY winter f10under in Narragansett n..y are primarily responsive to loeal environmental eonditions that while somewhat persi,tcnt over time do not eorrespond to any l3ay-wide gradient. A study ofviabilily ofwinter f10under for the first month after hatehing showed high mortahty rates for 1110st loeat ion studies. Female winter f10under were eolleeted at three sites in Leng Island Sound and one in lower Narragansett l3ay. Larvae were weighed and ana!yzed for protein, lipid. RNA, and DNA eontent withm three days after hatehing. Correlations were observed be­ tween larval survival and weight, protein, RNA, and lipid content. Narragansctt Bay females produeed the smallest larvae with the lowest survival rates. Analysis of stornach contents ofwinter f10under was continued. Narra~ansett Laboratory and Woods Ilo!e Laboratory staff of the Reerllitment Dynamics Investlgation eompleted a MOCNESS survey of Georges Bank in June wh ich found eod and haddock larvae and pelagie juveniles to be very abundant and widespread compared to previous years. The wide range in lengths for both species from recently-hatched to post-metamorphie juveniles, was indicative ofan unusually protraeled spawning season. Also, jelly fish were unusually abundant aeross the northem half ofthe Bank, whereas salps were extremely dense along the southern flank in deeper waters. In July, 1987 a three-vessel experiment was eonducted on northeastern Georges l3ank for a comparison of Delta submersible juvenile gadid transect observations with catches in a research bottom trawl by the RN Delaware 1/ and in a large pelagie trawl (IYGPl) by the Canadian vessel Alfred Necd/er. Juvenile eod. 3-7 cm were abundantly eollected and observed, whereas juvenile haddock, 5-9 em were at least an order of magnitude lower in numbers and only oecasionally observed from the submersible. 130th eod and haddock arrear to have similar behavior near bottom. They were observed by day on the bOllom, or wilhin a meter of the bOllom, stemming into the strong tidal eurrent; at slack tides under low eurrent speed their swimming dlfection was more random. At night, juveniles were observed on the bollom as by day; however, numerous individuals were observed 2-3 m off the bollom, drifting and sWlmming back to the bollom in the submersibJe's lights. The abundanee of 2 juvenile gadids on transects was patehy and at times strongly c1ustered (l-JO per m ) in­ dicative of schooling behavior. Daytime bottom trawl catehes eonsistenlly underes­ timated their abundanee by several orders ofmagnitude eompared to standardized submer­ sible transeet counts. Gut examination revealedjuvenile cod and haddoek to be fecding predominantly on hyperiid amphipods. Stornach analysis of the larger predators in bollom trawls provided evidence that sea ravens and seulpins were important predators on the juveniles. In the laooratory, prey seleetion ofeod and haddoek larvae and juveniles eontinued to oe studied from the 1981 to present field data base. Reports were eompleted on eomrarative vertical distribution of eod and haddoek and growth in terms oflength based on da.ly otolith inerements through their first six months of life. NMFS, NEFC Laboratory, Woods lIole, MA: Food weo studies eontinlled at the NEFC Woods Ilolc Laboratory with special foeus on Georges Bank. Stomaehs from more than 17,000 fish (mostly piselvorous specics) were ex­ amined at sea ami several thousand O-group gadids were preserved on 16 eruises In 1987. Preliminary aprraiSaJ ofstomaeh data on maekerel from spring erui'Cs showed Jower in­ eidenee of san( tanee larvae wh ich is eonsistent with other survey evidenee of lower sand lanee ahundanee. Intensive sampling ofpotential O-group gadid rredators (4800 stolllaehs) at an experimental site on Georges Bank in July showed sea raven amI Jongtrorn seuJpin to oe the key rredators on O-group eod. A paper was published on the diet and diwibutioJl of juveniles 0 17 speeics including eod and haddoek. Work eontinlled on development of reeruitment and mllltispeeics predalor-prey models. Modifieations were beglln on the haddock reenritment model to ineorporale patchincss of - 77 - • larvae and their prey, as weil as improved adveetive loss mechanisms. A paper on stocha'­ !ie re,erllitment model~ was eomplcted a,nd variance estimators were devclop,e~1 for spawl1­ lOg biomass per reermt data and other flshery parameters. A paper SllnllnaflZII1" knowlcdge gained to date on Georges Bank recrllitment stlldies was presented <11 the NATO Symposium on Biological-Physieal Interactions in the World Oeeans.

NMFS, SEFC Laboratory. Beaufort, NC: In 1987, early life history research at the Beaufort Laboratory (North Carolina) ofthe Southeast Fisheries Center, NMFS, continued to coneentrate on factors that affect the dis­ tribution. growth, and survival ofselected commercial and rccreational specics. WOlk in estuarine waters of North CaroHna examined early life history parameters (srawning season; estuarine immigration reriod; age. size and eondition; relative contflblltion of spawned eohorts to numbers 0 immigrants; and age distribution within the estuary) of Brel'Oortia tyrannus, an estuarine-dependent specics. Corresponding research in the west­ ern North Atlantie examined meteorological and hydrodynamie mechanisms that affect cross shclf transport ofB. tyrannus and other estuarine-dependent specics, to the estuary. In the northern Gulf of Mexieo, research focused on the spatial distribution, feeding. eon­ dition, and growth of larval fishes in relation to the Mississippi River pI urne front. Work eoneentrated on Brel'oortia patronus, Leiastamus xanthurus, and Micropogonias undulatus larvae in the winter, and Scomberomorus cal'alla and S. macularus larvae in the spring, sum­ mer, and fall (in eooperation with the Panama City Laboratory, SEFC, NMFS (F1orida). The life history strategies of two congenerie allopatrie c1l1peids (menhaden) are being studicd in an attempt to explain how all life stages of these specics have adapted to their partieular environments on the Atlantie and Gulf coasts of the United States, and how they have adapted for persistenee and rcproduetion. NMFS, SEFC Miami Laboratory. Miami, F1..: Largc-seale eeosystem survey work of the Gulf of Mexieo continues for its seventh consecu­ tive year of interstate, as weil as international. cooperation. The pro!;ram titled Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) is a cooperatlve cffort of the SEFC National Marine Fisheries Service and Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, F1orida. and the government of Mexico, to survey the waters of the Gulf of Mexico for environmen­ tal data, plankton, shrimp. and bottom flsh. The program commenced in 1982, and reports on ichthyoplankton and environmental data for 1982, 1983. and 1984 are availahlc. In ad­ dition, real-time reports on shrimp abundanees offTexas and Louisiana are made available to fishermen and management agencies during June and July. Spring ichthyoplankton sur­ veys have yiclded impressive results for indexing the spawning stock size of bluefin tuna. Because of recent decIines in king mackercl, ichthyoplankton surveys are being redirected to determine areas of spawning concentrations for this spccics. Thcse crlliscs are con­ dllctcd in Scptember and October to coincide with peak spawning times of mackcrcls and red drum, Sciaenops ocellara, another critically important food fish. Rcsearch on reeruitment aspects of tropical species has been aetivcly pursued. Besides analyzing results of the SEAMAP material, Dr. \ViIliam J. Richards ehaired a symposium on the sut>jeet at Guam for the \Vestern Society of Naturalists meeting on 26 June 1986. Sevcral important papers were given, including Dr. Richards' eontribution written with his student K. C. Lindernan, enlitled "Reerllitment proeesscs of recf fi~hes: Planktonie proees~es, scttlement and demersal eeoJogies, and fishery analysis." Thc eontrihutions of this symposium appeared in the Bulletin ofMarine Science 42(2) September 1987. Addi­ tional papers on this subject ",hieh appeared with this article includcd two papers by P. J. Doherly--"Thc rcplcnishmenl of populalions cf eoral reef fi,hes, recruitmenl M'TVeys, and the prohlems ofvariahil,ity manifest on multiple seales" and "Light-traps: Seleetive hut use· - 78 - ful devices for quantifying the distributions and abundanee of lalval fishes"; a paper en­ tillcd "Inshore Ichlhyoplankton: A dislinctive asscmblage?" by C. L. Smith, J. C. l)lcr, and L. Still man; and D. Y. Shapiro's raper "Inferring larval reeruitment strategies fwm the dis­ tributional eeology of settled indlviduals of a coral reeffish."

Rcsearch conducted under a Cooperative Agreement with the Universily of Miami's Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) includcd work by Dr. Michael F. MeGowan with Dr. William Richards of the sErc, the lime serics of cs· timates of bluefin tuna spavming stock biomass was extended through 1987 with SEAMAP ichthyoplankton data by applying the estimation proeedures developed two years ago. Gulf of Mexico spawners (10 years and older) remain at low abundanee levels relative to 1978. This larvae-based estimate is one of the principal fishery-independent indices used for calibrating virlual population analysis (VPA) estimates of total stock size. During the 1987 survey in the Gulf of Mexico eight transeets were made aeross the bound- e ary of the Loop Current, the predominant oeeanographie feature of the Gulf. The tran- seets included oblique bongo tows, CfD easts, and XIlT's. The boundary was loeale

PLANS FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS RELATED TO BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY Michael R. Reeve

This report focusses on primarilY U.S. planning activities in biological oceanography and related fields. The National Science Foundation. throu~h 1ts Division o~ Ocesn Sciences. 18 a primar~ source of funds for U.S. academic researchers in the ocean selenees. The past few years have seen an upsur~e 1n plannln~ actlvlties whlch are focussln~ on ~lobal scale environmentsl phenomena. The impetus for this has undoubtedly been the significant new insights afforded by the satellite sensors. In blo1o~lcal oceano~raphY. these have partlcularl~ been the acesn color and inrra red sensors, which. over wlde time and space scsIes. have combined to provide a new integration of biology and physlcs or the oceans. There are seversl pr02rams. in various sta~es of plannln~ or Implementatlon. which are elther anala~ous. or directly related to international efforts. A short summary of these is provided below. Not discussed are the international World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) and Tropical Ocean/Global Atmosphere (TOGA) programs, because they are primarilY physical in nature. Information regarding any of these can be obtalned by contactlnK met

GLOBAL OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS DYNAMICS

Major changes in the species composition of mar1ne ecosystems have been repeatedlV documented over the past centur~. The populations involved freQuently contribute significantly to human food supply, so their variability has enormous societal impact. Slnce most marine anlmals share the 8trate~y of producin~ hundreds to millions of offsprin~. recent research has focussed on early life history stages, and the variability of their recru1tment ~o adult stocks. controlled by b10logical, phys1cal and chemical dynamics of the oceans. The ~oal of Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) is to understand ~he coupling between ocesn ph~sics and and the d~namics of marine animal populations so as to predict the natural varieb1lit~ in time end space of the species and communltles const1tutin~ the marine ecos~stem. Atta1n1ng ~his objective w1ll reQuire a ~lobal perspective. Biological expressions of physical forcing may be local or re~1onal in scope. but the relevant ph~s1cal processes are dynam1cally linked to ~lobal weather and climate.

A varlety of workshops throu~h the ei~htles focussed on recruitment process as the key to understanding population variability on the marine environment (e.g. Fish Ecology 1,11 and 111). The Ocean Studles Board of the National Academy of Sciences called a workshop to study its implications (report pub11shed 1987). Concurren~ly. NOAA. throu~h 1ts NMFS, Sea Grant and OAR components, began focussing researCh on recruitment of commercial spec1es as a way of predlcting adult population stocks, and international or~anizations. such as IOe. FAO and - 80 - a

leES be~an to coordlnate p~annln~ cf major pro~rams such as IREP (International Recruitment Pro~ram).

NSF. in cooperation with NOAA. NASA and ONR is supportin~ a major US communit~ workshop (M~ 1988) to outline the mechanism for the establishment of a scientif1c plan for GLOBEC. The Geosciences Direetorate of NSF end NOAA's Ocesn end Atmospher1c Research Office and National Marine Fisheries Service have signed a statement-of-intent to cooperate in in this area. which is scheduled to become a major focus of research tor the n!ntiesA

THE GLOBAL OCEAN FLUX STUDY

The overall goal of the Global Ocean Flux Stud~ (GOFS) is to identif~ and quantif~ the ph~s1cal. chemical. and biological processes controllln~ blo~eochemlcal cyclln~·ln the ocean, end their interaction with the ~lobal atmosphere. and to understand these processea weIl enou~h to predict thelr 1n~luences on, end responses to. global scale perturbations.

The National Research Counc1l called a meetin~ in Februar~. 198~ on lon~-term chemical/blo1oKical dynamlcs of the acesn, whlch resulted in a proposal for aGlobaI Ocean Flux Stud~. A follow­ up workshop, sponsored by NSF. ONR, end NASA. resulted 1n a consensus statement of the overall ~oal. specl~lc objectlves, end specltlc recommendatlons tor action that now constltutes the basis of the U.S. Global Ocean Flux Stud~.

An international Scientific Planning Comm1ttee tor the Joint Global Ocean Flux Stud~ (JGOFS) was formed in October 1987 under the auspices of SCOR (Scientific Committee tor Oceanic Research). The JGOFS Scientific Planning Comm1ttee has representatives from 7 countr1es (Canada, France, Federal Republie ot Germany, Japan. Netherlands. Un1ted Kin~dom, and Un1ted states); an observer ~rom the People's Republic ot China attended the most recent meeting.

The GOFS Planning and Implementat10n Office was established in 1986 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst1tution. The Global Ocean Flux Stud~ will become tull~ implemented in the 1990s. A Time-Series Pilot Project is proposed tor two locations. one off Bermuda. and the other oft Hawaii. A study ot ~he initiation and ~rowth of the spr1n~ Phytoplankton bloom in the North At1ant1c in 1989 will be the first basin-scale process investigated b~ GOFS and its international counterpart. JGOFS.

RIDGE

The un1f~ing goal of the RIDGE (R1dge Interdisciplinar~ Global Experiments) program is to understand the ph~sical. chemical and biological causes and consequences of energ~ transfer with1n the global rld~e system throu~h time and space. The objectlves •

- 81 -

include understandin~ the flow of the mantle. the processes that transform ma~ma into ocesn crust. the lnteract10ns of or~anlsms with physical and chemical environments at mld-ocean rld~es. end to determine the distribution and intensity of mid-ocean hydrothermal ventln~ end the lnteractlon cf ventln~ with the acesn environment.

Overall objectives and ~oals of the pro~ram are identified in "The Mid-Ocean Rid~e. A Dynamlc Global System". published by the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences. A plannin~ office has been established at the University of Washin~ton. Aseries of workshops will be held in 1988 to translate the recommendations of the National Academy workshop into a scientlfic prospectus end operationsl plan. BritlSh scientists have be~un initial plannin~ and discussions of a collaborative pro~ram on rid~e crest processes. elose contact is bein~ maintained with traditional French sources of participation in rid~e crest research.

LAND-MARGIN ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH

The purpose of proposed research at the land/sea interface is to understand past and predict future chan~es in biolo~ical populations and ecosystems of the aasetal zone and the borctering terrestrlal ecosystems that atfect the coastal zone. Research will tocus on (a) the changes 1n physlcal sedlmentalo~lcal. chemical. and biolo~ical inputs from land and understand what causes slteratlons in these variables; and (b) the responses cf blo1o~lcal populations to chan~es 1n these environmental variables.

The American Society of Limnolo~y and Oceano~raphy sponsored a workshop at the Marine Biolo~ical Laboratory, Woods Hole, in May. 1987. to consider necessary components of a Land/Sea Intertace initiative. which was or~anised by Dr. John Robbie. As a first step 1n the development ol a lar~er initiative. NSF established a small "Land-Mar~1n Ecosystems" Pro~ram 1n 1988. •

- 82 -

LiSSR

e5.A. 5 udenetsky)

In 1987 to evaluate foraging eonäitions available for eo~­ ~ereial fishes a survey for euphausiids, prey of eod, was earrieä out in the winter period, development and d~stribution of ~oo­ ~lankton i~ the drifö routes of larval eod, oigratio~ routes o~ blue whiting and feeäing areas of capelin in the No~;e ian and Berents Seas were studied. A 24-hour station was completed to stuäy the diet of polar eod. Bue to negative water temperature anomalies in the southern Barents Sea in the first half-year a three-week lag was observed in the spring development of calanus and euphausiids eompared to the long-term mean. The ~evelopment of ~ooplankton was re­ tarded, yearly biomass max~um was reeorded in the scuthern part of "he sea iL the first half of June, i~ tee south-east in early August and in tue ncrth i~ Septe~ber. Beeause cf retarda­ tion cf ealanus develcpment the ~ajority of them stayed in the surfaee layer for longer time.

A delay in tue spa~n~~g and development cf euphausiids re­ sulted in 19ter formaticn cf near-bottom ecneentrations cf euphau­ siids in scuthe~ shallcws. The density was 10 times greater than in the previous year and 4 times higher than the long-term nean. Distribution of ab~dant co~centrations cf euphausiids ~as tra­ d~tio~al, i.e. ~ce greates~ amo~~t was fO~1ä in the ~orth-~es­ ~er~ end so~t~-eas~e~ shallo~s. U~usual ~ere e~~enGive ccncen-

ü::,a1;i:;:lns cf ave:-.a;,;e de::isitj ',Ihien occurrc ~ pract:"cn.lly t. ...rOUCh­ out the ~hole surveyed area. Tne number cf euphausiids cecreased

~:l ;y on ~:;'e •. ezte:':l slope, i.:: ~astern s.4110\".'5 3-'1C in t~e rAo1:'th­ "ast of the see.. - 83 -

58 phytoplanl:toll. 2')2.2 ::oof-l:,::;:ton and 588 cuph.-:msiiÖ

~3~rl~s ~~re collccted. 4252 ca~elic, 5207 herring, 5515 m~- okrel and 18630 blue ~hiting were analysed for feedin3.

The ',Vhi te sea. -The investigations carried out in brought certain the ~~ite sea results in tbe past five years. 111 Region",l Conierence "The problem of studing, rational using, protecting tbe marin. eavironment of the White sea area~ was held in Kandalaksha in september 1987. 174 reports on oceanology. ~drobiology end ichthiology of the White sea were submitted to tbis CGnference.

8eference: "Tbe problem of studing, rational ueing, protecting the marine env~~onment of the White Bea area" Vol.1 and 2.ed. by corresponding-member of thc USSR Ae~de~y of Seienees •• pp.285. To'::n of I:p.ndalakthn. - 84 -

BaU1c Sea

Zooplankton

In 1981 zooplankton s~mpling WgS curried out in subdivisions 26,

28, 29 of the Bgltic Seg und in the Culf of Ri~a in Februury, ~QY, August and October - beginning of November at standgrd oceQ­ nological stations. Besides, in March - April and June-July ad­ ditional s~mpling WwS cgrried out in the aregS of commercial fiah apawning. In 1981 a total of 550 zooplankton s~plea was taken. Sampling was made by Jeddy net 31/50, meah atze in the filtering cone is 0.16 mm. Ichthyoplankton In 1987 awmpling had been carried out in subdiviaiona 25, 26, 28 and 29 of the Baltic Sea aince March to July monthly. 600 a~plea were taken. S~pl1ng wus done by IKS-BO und Isaaca-Kidd truwl (6 feet and 10 feet models). Mesh aize in a trawl cod-end was 0.5 mm. Nektobenthoa In 1981 nektobenthos aampling was carried out in subdiviaions 26 ~d 28 of the Baltic Sea in April - May, July, September and December. 180 trawl stations were done. Sampling WwS carried out by Isaacs-Kidd trawl (10 feet model), mesh size in a trawl cod­ end was 0.5 mm. Zoobenthos (macrofauna) In 1981 macrofauna sgmpling WgS carried out in subdivisions 26, 28 und 29 of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Ri..a in March und

July-äubUst. 320 stations were done. Sgmpling WaS made by Van­ Veen grab (0.1 m2). The sieve with mesh size O.~ rnm w~s used for Cround filtering.- Feedinr of fish In 1981 the datw on herr1~e and sprat feedinc in subdiv1~ions 26, 28 and 29 of the Balt1c Sea in March, May, July, September, October und December were collected. 2140 sprat stomachs were collected. t O/V .. International Council for the C.M.1988/L: 1 Exploration of the Sea Report of Activities Addendum 1

Germany, Federal Republie of

(J. Lenz)

INSTITUT FUR MEERESKUNDE AN DER UNIVERSITÄT KIEL

The institute with its 5 biologieal departments eovering botany, zoology, microbiology, planktology and fisheries biology is engaged in a great number of aetivities falllng within the seope of biologieal oeeanography. The following enumeration of recent and eurrent research aetivities is eon­ ventionally subdivided into planktologieal and benthologieal projeets, though the interaction of biologieal processes between both eeologieal zones in eoastal and deep-sea eeosystems forms the main topie of interest in a number of projeets.

Planktologieal investigations In addition to monthly sampllng of the monitoring stations for HELCOM in Kiel Bight, the water eolumn at the Institute's pier was sampled two times a week in order to follow short-term ehanges in water chemistry and plank­ ton composition. Within the frarnework of a research projeet on eutrophication in the Baltie, a study on oxygen consumption rates measured in water sampies under in-situ eonditions during the course of the year in order to follow the regular development of oxygen deficieney in deeper parts of Kiel Bight and Kiel Fjord during summer and autumn was eompleted and a model developed for the prediction of oxygen depletion rates. An investigation on the occurrence and abundance of phytoplankton resting stages in sediment traps and on the sea bottom in Kiel Bight was continued. A pronounced seasonal eyele was deteeted mirroring the predominant plankton blooms in spring and autumn. The occurrence, abundance and contribution of ultraplankton specles to phytoplankton biomass and primary produetion was studied in Kiel Fjord and Kiel Bight from spring to autumn.

Aseries of experimental studies in large tanks, carrled out on the Insti­ tute's pier and durlng a crulse to the Norweglan Sea, were completed. !bey -2- were devoted to nutrient cycling, phytoplankton growth under different light conditions and grazing and faecal pellet production by copepods.

Both length, volume, dry weight and carbon content of individual zooplank­ ton species common in Kiel Bight were measured and assessed for a critical evaluation of existing biomass values and conversion factors used in the literature.

The analysis of plankton data collected during the international patchiness experiment (PEX) in the central Baltic in 1986 was continued. The hypothesis that coprophagy by copepods may play a signHicant role in • cycl1ng of particulate matter within the euphotic zone wss tested in a series of experiments with different species at the l:niversity of Tromsll and in Kiel. The results so fsr obtained, are, however, ambiguous. Psrticle !lux studies were csrried out between 30· and 45·N north of the Azores in the North Atlantic aboard 'POSEIDON' in June/July. Newly de­ veloped drifting sediment traps were successfully employed.

Within the framework of the joint research project (Sonderforschungsbereich 313) 'Sedimentation im Europäischen Nordmeer', supported by the German Research Foundation, planktological and benthological investigations were carried out during two expeditions to the Voering Plateau in the Norwegisn Sea with the aim of relating biological processes in the water column to sedimentation events at the sea bottom. In addition to Held studies, ex­ periments on feeding and faecal pellet production of dominant zooplankton species were conducted. Moored sediment traps combined with current meters were recovered and exchanged.' During 'POLARSTERN' cruise ARK IV to the Arctic, Kiel planktologists parti­ cipated in an interdiscipl1nary research project on the signiHcance of frontal zones (Arctic and Polar Front) in governing physical, chemical and biological processes and the specHic water mass structures in the Green­ • land Sea. Special emphasis was laid on activity measurements (respiration and excretion) within different size fractions ranging from nano- to meso­ plankton. A special study was devoted to the colony stze structure of Phaeocystis pouchetii populations.

The impact of tbe jelly-fish Aurel1a aurita on mesoplanktic larvae of benthos animals was studied at Kristineberg on the Gullmarfjord through field observations and aquarium experiments.

As part of the monitoring research programme in the Battic Sea, a small ------~-- ~------

-3-

batfish carrying a eID, a pR meter and an attenuation and chlorophyll fluoreseenee probe was developed for obtaining ground truth data for the interpretation of satellite images.

Mierob1ologieal investigations dealing with baeteria abundanee, biomass, activity and production in relation to environmental factors coneentrated on two areas, the southern and southwestern eoast of the Iberian Peninsula with the outflow of Med1terranean waters, and on the Baltie Sea. In the latter, a special study was devoted to the denitr1fieation proeess within

the H2S eontaining bottom water layer of the Gotland Deep. • Other topies stud1ed 1n experiments were the growth and grazing of baeteria and heterotrophie nanoflagellates and the utilization of naturally oeeur­ ring polymeric substanees by baeteria under various eonditions.

Comparative studies on the moulting cyele and its eeophysiologieal adapta­ tions in Aretie and Antaretie krill species Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Euphausia superba were contlnued.

Intensive studies on the abundance of eggs and larvae of eod and sprat in the Baltie Sea, especially in the Bornholm Sea, of herring in the North Sea and adjacent waters and of mackerel in the Bay of Biseay and the Celtie Sea in relation to environmental eonditions and food supply were eontinued. Special emphasis was laid on their fine-seale distribution by employing multiple opening and elosing nets like the MOCNESS and the MESSHAI by Hydro-Bios.

The small-seale distribution of young O-group herring and the eoneentration of zooplankton organisms in 'mierolayers' was studied from a swimming un­ derwater laboratory named 'ATOLL' by means of vIdeo and high-resolution sonar.

Benthological Investigations

Within the framework of the Sonderforschungsbereieh (SFB) 313, as already mentioned, various benthological studies were carried out on the Voering Plateau in the Norweg1an Sea. The faunal composition of sed1ment sampies was analyzed and the community activity in the upper centimeters of the sediment measured by means of a sensitive mlcrocaloric method. These measurements were supported by the analysis of varlous blochemical para- meters. The alm was to demonstrate the quick response of the melo- and microbent.hos even in tbe cold deep-sea to sedimentation events of parti- -4- culate matter.

An extensive and detailed study on the oceurrence and influence of periods of anoxie conditions on the benthos fauna in Kiel Bight during the last two deeades was completed. Monitoring of the macrozoobenthos community was continued according to the recommendations of the Helsinki Commission. An investigation on the influence of fisheries bottom trawling on macro­ benthos and nutrient release was started by means of underwater video sur­ veys and an experimental approach for measuring nutrient flux from the • gear-ploughed bottom into the overlying water layer. Another study dealt with small-seale distribution patterns of macrozoo­ benthos in Kiel Bight. The dwelling-tubes of the lugworm Arenicola marina were inspected in detail and their function evaluated as favourable settling places for mIcrobes and as effective zones for biochemical processes in the sediment. The distribution of the brittle-star Ophiure albida in Kiel Bight was studied under the aspect of its feeding behaviour. Pield observations and experiments were devoted to swarming behaviour and vertical migrations of the cumacean Diastylis rathkei.

Special biochemical adaptations of the musseis ~ islandica and Astarte borealis as well as of the priapulid Halycryptus spinulosus on long periods of anoxie conditions were studied. A new project was started on the occurrence and extent of supersaturation of oxygen in the shallow phytal and its possible impact on the benthos fauna. To find a measure for the physiological stress situation marine animals are exposed to in brackish waters, the metabolie oxygen/nitrogen ratio was in­ vestigated in several species.

Investigations on the nutrition of pogonophara were continued. By use of enzymatic methods, the ability of the bacterial symbionts to oxidize methane was successfully tested. The work on various aspects of the eeology and physiology of the sponge Halichrondia panicea with special emphasis on the ecological significance of the symbiontic algae was continued in field observations and experimen- -5-

tal approaches.

The nutrient budget of two dominant macroalgae, Fucus vesicularis and Phycodrys rubens was studied.

A general survey on the standing stock of macroalgae in Kiel Fjord showed that considerable changes have taken place compared with a sim11ar survey about 20 years ago. The former dominant red alga Furcellaria lumbricalis has almost disappeared. Fucus standing stock has decreased. too, whereas other red algae and smaller filiform brown algae apparently increased.

Various aspects of bacterial activity including metabolism and production in marine sediments were studied in Kiel Bight and in the deep-sea of the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea.

Another study dealt with the seasonal variation of bacterial numbers and biomass in relation to sediment-inhabiting ciliates in Kiel Bight.

ZOOLOGISCHES INSTITUT DER UNIVERSITÄT KIEL

Benthic investigations in the highly polluted Flensburg Fjord continued with in-situ recolonization experiments on larval settling patterns with regard to season and type of sediment. Another submarine experiment dealing with expected changes in benthic structure as a response to artificial organically enriched sediment was brought to an end. In the outer part of the Fjord a benthic structure analysis is being carried out in an area characterized by high sedimentation rates of organic material and good oxygen supply. Recolonization analysis of 3-year series of bottom sampies from defaunated areas in the deeper parts of the fjord continues.

A study on Kiel Bight sublittoral areas worthy of protection as natural reserves was flnished. The study 'Sensitivitätskartierung der deutschen Nordseeküste' concerning the sensitivity of different parts of the German wadden sea to crude 011 was continued. As main crHeria of gensitivity, sedimentological aspects on the one hand and a group of certdn indicator organisms (benthic cope­ pods) on the other are employed. The area investlgated inetudes the North Frisian coast between Sylt and Nordstrand. A 3-year study on the influence of burrowing macrofauna on interstitlal water nutrient profiles was carried out in a tidal sand flat (Island of -6-

Sylt). Burrowing structures and sediment reworking of polychaetes and molluscs were studled in laboratory flow-through aquarla. The results show the strong influence of bioturbation on nutrient profiles • .E!!. and Eh values of interstitlal water.

Studies on the role of ~ diverslcolor in the benthic community in the uppermost parts of the wadden sea were contlnued. Experimental Investigations on intertidal hard-bottom communities are still underway, both on the !sland of Helgoland and on the rocky shores of New Zealand.

Experimental studies on lire cycles and regeneration abilitles of certain • polychaete worms (Pygospio) are in progress. A computer programme for the estimation of representative ecological sampies by similarity area curves was presented.

The long-term investigations on ecology and distribution of Harpaeticoidea in the western European Deep-Sea were continued. A long-term analysis of the mollusc association in Harrington Sound (Bermu­ da) with special emphasis on the life cycles of the main species has been finished.

INSTITUT FUR BIOCHEMIE UND LEBENSMITTELCHEMIE DER UNIVERSITÄT HAMBURG

Work has eontinued on the BMFT (Bundesministerium fUr Forschung und Techno­ logie) project ZISCH; its purpose is to investigate the circulation and fate of pollutants in the North Sea. Within the framework of ZISCH. chemical ecosystem components (nutrients. dissolved and particulate organic sub­ stances. particle spectra) were analyzed from a second eomprehensive survey (Z6.l. - 9.3.87) covering the entire North Sea. The data of the field study were evaluated in elose cooperation with other research groups within ZISCH. deaUng with metal and organie pollutants and pollutant transport in the atmosphere. First results were presented at the SCOPE/UNEP Meeting, NIOZ t Texei, at a poster session In the Hamburglsche Vertretung 1n Bonn, and at the Seeond International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea. Landon. In the seeond year of the EIbe SFB 327. two cruises (in spring and in autumn) enabled intensive chemical studies of the nutrient regimes in the •

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EIbe estuary. and of transformation and transfer processes of organlc sub­ stances between the dissolved and particulate phase in the turbidity zone. Concurrently. mesocosm experiments were carried out in the vicinity of the Brunsbüttel lock; these controlled ecosystem studies facilitate the investi­ gation processes free of advective transports and mixing. The experiments were designed to study effects of mix1ng. adsorption and release of dis­ solved organlc substances and trace metals • As part of the Young Fish Survey 1987 and in addition to the ZISCH projects. anorganic nutrients were measured during the WALTER HERWIG cruises (2.2. ­ • 3.3. and 29.6. - 7.8.) and nutrient sampies were taken during the POSEIDON cruise (6. - 15.1.). In cooperation with the Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut. Hamburg. the nutrient chemistry of the Cerman Bight was studied in winter (3. - 14.12.). The data represent base-1ine concentrations in a season of reduced biologi­ cal production; this information will aid assessments of nutrient discharge to the German Bight. In conjunction with the international Creenland Sea Project and in coopera­ tion with the Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bre­ merhaven, nutrient analyses were made in the vicinity of the Arctie Front during May/June 1987. The data will provide information on biological pro­ duction potentials and water mass formation in an area which is of utmost importance for the ventilation of the world oceans.

BIOLOGISC11E ANSTALT lfELGOLANlJ

Routine measurements of hydrographical, chemical and biological parameters have been continued at Helgoland Roads (54'11.,' 1'1, 07'54,0' E). Five times a week. temperature, salinity, nutrients (P04, 1'1°3, 1'102' NH4' Si02), yellow substances ('Gelbstoff'). and biomass of phytoplankton as organic carbon, derived from microscopic counts (inverted microscope), were meas­ ured. In addition, once a week. bacterial numbers (pour plate method) in the sur­ face film and at a depth of 1 m were determined and BOD and surface ten­ sion measured. In the 1 m sampies also yeasts and oil-degrading microorga­ ntsms were counted. •

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Monthly cruises from lIelgoland to the estuaries of the rivers EIbe, Eider and the Weser for hydrographieal, chemical and biological investig~tions have been continued. lIydrographical, chemical and biological investigations have been continued on a cruise covering the North Frisian Wadden Sea and coastal waters (eastern German Bight).

The long-term ecological studies on temporal and spatial distribution of Noctiluca miliaris in the German Bight have been continued. Seasonal fluc­ tuations and annual abundance of this dominant dinoflagellate have now con­ • tinuously been recorded over aperiod of 22 years at Helgoland Roads.

A survey investigating causes and effects of oxygen deficiency in the south-eastern North Sea (each of 6'20' E, south of 57'00' N) was continued. Seston and its organic carbon and nitrogen content, phytoplankton con­ centrations, dissolved oxygen, micronutrients, salinity and temperature were measured. Sampl1ng was carried out in vertical sertes of water sampies on a grid of stations 12.5 nautical miles apart from each other during four cruises in April, August and October with R.V. 'FRIEDRIClI lIEINCKE'.

The ecological studies in the northern Wadden Sea of Sylt (German Bight) were carrled on. 58 times a year the following parameters were measured: Phytoplankton, mesozooplankton, seston components, temperature, salinity, pU, oxygen and phytoplankton nutrients (P04 , N03 , N02 , Nl14 , Si02 ).

ALFRED-wEGENER-INSTITUT FUR POLAR- UND ~mERESFORSCHUNG. BREMERHAVEN

Planktological Investlgations

Several planktologlcal investigations in the German Bight, deallng with the relationship between hydrographie fronts and chemical and biological properties, the characteristlcs of water masses, as weIl as the exchange between the tidal mudflats and the central North Sea have been finished. Two other investigations carried out at the North Sea research platform, dealing with the importance of plankton larvae and initial settlement of benthic hard and soft bottom communities, are under way. In the Greenland Sea~ plankton investigations) as part of the international Creenland Sea Project, concentrated on studie. of phyto- and zooplankton production in relation to physical processes in the region of the Arctic and Polar Front. •

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Results were partly presented at the ASLO Meeting in New Orleans in January 1988 and will be presented in a special volume of Polar Biology.

Benthological investigations Benthological work is now being concentrated on the southern Weddell Sea. Monitoring of macrobenthos communities in the German Bight is being con­ tinued, and additional samples have been taken from the central North Sea • Most of the material collected in the synoptic benthos survey in April 1986 has been worked up and taxonomically ident1fied. The first results were • presented at the Texel North Sea Conference in May 1988. The 'small food web' studles In the Wadden Sea using the 'Bremerhaven Caissons' were completed in autumn 1987. The material is presently belng worked up and will be published in 1989.

FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT SENCKENBERG, WILHELMSHAVEN

Within the framework of the lCES Working Group on North Sea Benthos, sedI­ ment and benthos samples were taken from the German, Dutch and British eco­ nomlc zones and analyzed for drawing dIstribution maps and estimating biomass production. Within an interdlsc1pl1nary cooperation programme, sedIment cores from the .' southern and northern Dogger Bank were studied for thelr sedlrnentological characterlstics and content of botanical (pollen) and zo010gical remnants. Prel1minary results reveal the hlstory of thls area in the early Holocene and oscil1ations In sea level and Its rise during the past 8000 years. Benthos investigations carried out during the international COST-647 Pro­ ject devoted to fluctuations of littoral communities along European coasts were continued off the lsland of Norderney. The results show not only annual f1uctuations but point to long-term changes on the species level and standing stock of benthic communities. A study on the sensitivity of benthic communities to pollution by hydrocar­ bons was completed in the Wadden Sea between the East Frislan islands and the mainland, and a new study started covering the whole German Wadden Sea.

Studles on population dynamics and productlvity of selected specles I1ving in the eu- and sublittoral zones were contlnued In order to gather infor- ..

-10- mation on standing stock development, growth rates and generation times.

Investigations on anthropogenie impacts on the epibenthos in the Jade Bight and on the endobenthos of the marine-terrestrial transition zone of the island of Mellum were also eontinued. •