A HIGH-FREQUENCY TIME-SERIES AT WEATHERSHIP-M, NORWEGIAN SEA, DURING THE 1997 SPRING BLOOM - FEEDING OF ADULT FEMALE CALANUS-FINMARCHICUS

The feeding ecology of Calanus finmarchicus was investigated during sp ring 1997 at a permanent station in the Norwegian Sea (Stn M, 66 degre es N, 2 degrees E) as part of the TASC (Trans Atlantic Study of Calanu s finmarchicus) project time-series investigations. The phytoplankton bloom began in mid May, coinciding with the onset of the stratificatio n, and was mainly composed of diatoms and prymnesiophytes. Daily inges tion of phytoplankton by C. finmarchicus was about 2% of body carbon f or the long period before the bloom, 30% during the bloom and 14% afte r the bloom. Due to their low abundance, ingestion of ciliates represe nted only 2 to 6% of the phytoplankton ingestion. Body carbon and carb on/nitrogen ratio decreased significantly before the bloom indicating a deficit in carbon ingestion and the use of storage Lipid during this period.