Variations in the advection of Calanus finmarchicus onto the Faroe Shelf

The copepod Calanus finmarchicus is a dominant factor in the marine ecosyst em on the Faroe Plateau, but its abundance is highly variable. Interannual differences of about one order of magnitude in Calanus abundance were obser ved on the shelf in spring and summer. In winter, C. finmarchicus is scarce ly found on the Faroe Plateau, but during spring and summer it is imported from offshore by advection. Variations in the numbers of imported overwinte red C. finmarchicus on the shelf in April are much larger than in the offsh ore waters feeding the area, and variability in inflow rater is likely the major explanation. Independent estimates of flushing rates for the shelf wa ter exhibit variations of a similar order of magnitude as the interannual v ariations in the biomass of C. finmarchicus on the shelf. Prolonged windstr ess, especially from the southwest. increases the Rushing rate, and there i s some observational evidence of a relationship between C. finmarchicus abu ndance on the shelf and water inflow. (C) 2000 International Council for th e Exploration of the Sea.