On the copepod response to iron-induced phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

This thesis investigates the response of copepods to increased phytoplankton abundance during two mesoscale iron-fertilisation experiments in the Southern Ocean (EisenEx in austral spring 2001 and EIFEX in austral autumn 2004), focussing on the copepods vertical migration behaviour. Their migratory behaviour can be considered as a food finding strategy to cope with the patchy, mostly poor food environment of the Southern Ocean. A large abundance increase of copepods was observed inside the bloom area. Their grazing can significantly alter carbon and nutrient fluxes after iron fertilisation in Southern Ocean.