REPRODUCTIVE PATTERNS IN MEIOBENTHIC HARPACTICOIDA (CRUSTACEA, COPEPODA) OF THE CALIFORNIA CONTINENTAL-SHELF (SANTA-MARIA BASIN)

The abundance, life-history characteristics (development stage and bod y size) and reproductive parameters (clutch volume and egg diameter) o f three dominant meiobenthic harpacticoid copepod species (Cletodes tu berculatus, C. macrura and Zosime pacifica) in the Santa Maria Basin ( California continental shelf) were examined. Comparisons were made tem porally (eight quarterly sampling dates in 2 years), and spatially on both local (0-10 km) and regional (20-40 km) scales. Cletodes tubercul atus attained its highest densities in January 1987 and February 1988, while C. macrura were most abundant in May 1987, with no similar maxi mum in 1988. Zosime pacifica densities were highest between October an d April in all years. All three species were most abundant at depths < 169 m. High proportions of juvenile copepodites and high sex ratios (f emale:male >1) were observed for all three species, indicating adequat e conditions for population growth. However, gravid females were confi ned to shallow (<169 m) depths. Reproductive parameters exhibited weak relationships to female body size, suggesting a strong environmental influence on reproduction. The three copepod species had different tem poral and spatial patterns in reproductive parameters. Reproductive pa rameters of C. macrura did not vary temporally or spatially. There wer e small differences in reproductive parameters for Z. pacifica, but wi th no detectable pattern. Variations in reproductive parameters of C. tuberculatus were related to sediment organic carbon content. Larger c lutch volumes and egg diameters of C. tuberculatus were found in the n orthern portion of the basin, where sediment organic carbon content wa s highest.