POPULATION-DENSITIES, GROWTH, AND RESPIRATION OF THE CHAETOGNATH PARASAGITTA ELEGANS IN THE CANADIAN HIGH ARCTIC

The chaetognath population at Resolute in the Canadian high Arctic (75 degrees N) was monitored biweekly during 1993. Parasagitta elegans co mposed 98.9% of the population, and Eukrohnia hamata made up the remai ning 1.1%. The proportion of E. hamata increased east toward Baffin Ba y. Parasagitta elegans had a 700-d Life-span at a mean annual temperat ure of about -1.5 degrees C. The population of P. elegans at Resolute had a mean annual density of 191 . m(-2), weighed 0.409 g dry weight . m(-2), respired 1.259 g O-2 . m(-2). y(-1), and grew 0.566 g dry weig ht . m(-2). yr(-1), with a 0.40 net growth efficiency and a P:B (produ ction : biomass) ratio of 1.38. It made up 5.7% of the macroplankon bi omass by weight, respired 1.5% of its total oxygen consumption, and co nsumed 1.78 g dry weight prey . m(-2). yr(-1), a minimum of 0.1%. d(-1 ) or 36% of the mean annual copepod biomass.