FAR-FIELD CONTROL OF LONG-TERM CHANGES IN NORTHUMBERLAND (NW NORTH-SEA) COASTAL ZOOPLANKTON

Zooplankton at a station 5.5 nautical miles off the Northumberland coa st has been monitored monthly since 1968, Multivariate statistics dist inguish two groups in the samples. with a change in community structur e around 1979. Three groups are not the result of dramatic changes in the occurrence of key species, bur reflect small changes in abundance of many species. This study investigates the relationship between temp oral changes in this community and local meteorological factors, far-f ield hydrographical meteorological factors and internal, biotic, feedb acks, including availability of phytoplankton and abundance of predato rs. The results indicate good correlations for both zooplankton abunda nce and community structure with the position of the north wall of the Gulf Stream. Implications are discussed. (C) 1996 International Counc il for the Exploration of the Sea