RNA:DNA ratios of Calanus finmarchicus in the Georges Bank region:
relationships with chlorophyll concentration, egg production, and growth
rates
M. M. Wagner, R. G. Campbell, and E. G. Durbin
In order to monitor the growth and physiological condition of the
copepod Calanus finmarchicus in the Georges Bank region, we measured
RNA:DNA ratios of copepods in the area during spring 1995 and 1997. During
1995, RNA:DNA ratios of stages N6 through adult female were between 21% and
117% of ratios for laboratory-reared copepods growing at maximal rates.
RNA:DNA ratios of younger juvenile stages (N6, C2, C3) were related to in
situ chlorophyll a concentration (chl a) whereas ratios of stages C4
through adult were not. Ratios of C5 and C6 were lowest in January, as
these copepods had recently emerged from diapause. RNA:DNA ratios of C1
through C5 were correlated with carbon and nitrogen growth rates, although
the association was weak (carbon: r=0.357, nitrogen: r=0.436, P<0.05).
There was a strong linear relationship between RNA:DNA and egg production
rates of adult females (r2=0.70, P<0.05). Our results demonstrate that
RNA:DNA ratios can support current techniques for measuring production of
juvenile and adult stages of C. finmarchicus.