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JPR Advance Access published online on January 24, 2008
Journal of Plankton Research, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbn001
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Productivity and grazing impact of Oikopleura dioica (Tunicata, Appendicularia) in Tokyo Bay

Riki Sato1,2,*, Yukiko Ishibashi1, Yuji Tanaka1, Takashi Ishimaru1 and Michael J. Dagg3

1 Department of Ocean Sciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan 2 Department of Environmental Simulation, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Ienomae 1-7, Rokkasho-mura, Kamikita-gun, Aomori 039-3212, Japan 3 Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, 8124 Highway 56, Chauvin, Louisiana 70344, USA

* corresponding author: rsato{at}ies.or.jp

Received on November 7, 2007; revised on December 31, 2007; accepted on January 2, 2008


  Abstract

To estimate the productivity and grazing impact of a common appendicularian species Oikopleura dioica in Tokyo Bay, monthly observations on its abundance and vertical distribution were conducted during 2000. The abundance peaked in February and October, but was low during summer. Seasonal fluctuations in productivity were similar to those of the abundance, with maximum values of 92, 134 and 508 mgC m–2 day–1 for somatic, new house and discarded house productivity in October and 206 mgC m–2 day–1 for fecal pellet productivity in February, respectively. The averaged biomass of O. dioica was only 2.5% of that of copepods; however, the secondary productivity of the former corresponded to 12.4% of the latter. Daily grazing impact on particulate organic carbon ranged from 0.05 to 5%, which is close to the impact by copepods. These results imply that in Tokyo Bay, where small copepods and jellyfish are abundant, O. dioica is an important component of the ecosystem because it bridges between small primary producers and higher consumers.

Key Words: appendicularians • Oikopleura dioica • productivity • grazing impact • Tokyo Bay

Communicating Editor: Dr Roger Harris


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