Changes in phytoplankton color index and selected calanoid
copepods in continuous plankton recorder data from the
Scotian Shelf
D. Sameoto
Continuous Plankton
Recorder data for phytoplankton color index,total diatoms, C.
finmarchicus stages 1 - 4, C. glacialis, C. hyperboreus and
Paracalanus/Pseudocalanus collected between the years 1961 and
1998 in the Canadian Atlantic region were analyzed for geographic
(eastern and western Scotian shelf) and temporal changes.
Significant differences on both geographic and temporal scales were
detected. Changes were observed in these taxa after 1991 with the
phytoplankton color index increasing significantly. A shift in the
climatology occurred after 1991 as concentrations of C.
finmarchicus and Paracalanus/Pseudocalanus became significantly
higher in the first three months of the year compared to the years
1961 to 1974.