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Vol. 43 No. 2, 2004
Spatial Distribution of Copepods in Surface Waters of the Southeastern Taiwan Strait
Wen-Tseng Lo1,*, Jiang-Shiou Hwang2 and Qing-Chao Chen3
1Department of Marine Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 804
2National Taiwan Ocean University, Institute of Marine Biology, Keelung, Taiwan 202
3South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Science of China, Guangzhou 510275, China
Wen-Tseng Lo, Jiang-Shiou Hwang and Qing-Chao Chen (2004)
Those were investigated during 16-19 June 1998. In all, 90 species of
copepods were identified. The mean numerical abundance of copepods was
37.9 ± 12.7 individuals m-3. Among these species,
Acrocalanus gracilis, with an occurrence rate of 86%, was the most
dominant taxon, contributing 37% to the numerical total of copepods.
Other dominant copepods included Undinula vulgaris (11%), Oncaea venusta (7%), and Farranula gibbula
(6%). The numerical abundance and species richness of copepods were
higher in the waters south of the Penghu Islands. This area is affected
by topographical upwelling due to the northwardflowing Kuroshio Current
and South China Sea waters meeting the shallower shelf of the Taiwan
Strait. Meanwhile, the lowest abundance and species richness of
copepods were found at stations near the center of the Strait.
Distribution patterns varied with different species, e.g., Acrocalanus gracilis, Undinula vulgaris, and Oncaea venusta had higher abundances in waters southwest of the Penghu Islands, while Farranula gibbula
had higher abundance in coastal waters. Other dominant copepods
exhibited higher abundances in coastal waters associated with either
topographic or hydrographic conditions. Three station groups were
defined using cluster analysis: southern stations off the Penghu
Islands, stations near the center of the Taiwan Strait, and stations in
the Penghu Channel. The last station group was particularly distinct
from the others. Three copepod species groups were also distinguished
and are herein discussed.
Key words: Copepod composition, Spatial distribution, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, Upwelling
*Correspondence: Fax: 886-7-5255020. E-mail: lowen@mail.nsysu.edu.tw
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