Early reproduction and development of dominant calanoid copepods in the sea ice zone of the Barents Sea—need for a change of paradigms?

Reproduction and growth of the dominant copepods Calanus finmarchicus, C. glacialis, C. hyperboreus and Pseudocalanus minutus were studied on transects across the sea ice zone of the northern Barents Sea in May and June 1997. C. glacialis and C. finmarchicus were numerically dominant and also the largest component of the biomass. C. hyperboreus was rather rare. Moderate levels of phytoplankton and eventually high concentrations of ice algae supported maximum egg production rates of 53.6 and 48.5 eggs female^–1 day^–1 of C. glacialis in May and June, respectively. Results of incubation experiments were supported by a tremendous abundance of C. glacialis eggs in the water column ranging from 7×10³ to 4.4×10⁴ m^–2 in May and from 9.8×10³ to a maximum of 9.7×10⁴ m^–2 in June. In contrast, C. finmarchicus spawned only in the vicinity of the ice edge, at a maximum rate of 30 eggs female^–1 day^–1. Egg sacs of P. minutus were often observed in the preserved samples, but contained only few eggs, which may be due to loss during sampling. The presence of considerable concentrations of young stages in May and June indicated successful recruitment of C. glacialis and P. minutus. Back calculation using published stage duration estimates indicates March/April as the begin of the reproductive and growth period for these species under the first-year ice of the Barents Sea. Hence, secondary production in the study area starts at the same time as in open water regions and polynyas in the northern North Atlantic. Although the role of ice algae in the nutrition of copepods was not clarified here, the significant relationship between phytoplankton chlorophyll and egg production of C. glacialis suggests that high reproductive activity has already been achieved at moderate food concentrations.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

To breed or not to breed—food competition and other factors involved in female breeding decisions in the pair-living nocturnal fork-marked lemur (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaner furcifer</Emphasis>)

Differential access to food resources is thought to be the main determinant of differences in female reproductive success but is poorly studied in both pair-living and nocturnal primates. The modes of food competition within and between families were investigated following the principles proposed by the ecological model using 3 years of field data from seven fork-marked lemur (Phaner furcifer) families. The major food resources were identified from year-round feeding observations and the strength and mode of competition were inferred from differences in physical condition. The most important food resource of fork-marked lemurs were tree exudates which occurred in small, defendable food patches, characterized by fast depletion and rapid renewal. These characteristics led to strong within-group contest and scramble competition, which were found to yield a positive dominance effect and a negative group-size effect on female net energy gain. Differential physical condition, however, did not translate directly into differential reproductive success. Low female fertility was best predicted by large family size associated with delayed dispersal by previous offspring. Although there is no obvious benefit from full-grown offspring in their territory, adults tolerate delayed natal dispersal, probably because dispersal poses extraordinary costs for the offspring. These costs are likely to accrue from decreased foraging efficiency in unfamiliar habitats because exudate feeding requires very rigid feeding itineraries. In conclusion, the presented evidence for group-size effects on reproductive success in pair-living females opens a new area for research on the costs and benefits of delayed dispersal and female reproductive decisions.This revised version was published in September 2003 with corrections to the Authors Present address.An erratum to this article can be found at Communicated by E.H.M. Sterck     

In-depth studies of Magellanic penguin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spheniscus magellanicus</Emphasis>) foraging: can we estimate prey consumption by perturbations in the dive profile?

A new concept based on analysis of dive depth data was developed to help estimate prey consumption in ten free-ranging Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) that were brooding chicks. By simultaneously analysing the undulations in the dive depth profile (measured by time-depth recorders, TDRs) and beak opening (obtained from the recently developed intra-mandibular angle sensors, IMASEN), it was possible to determine the proportions of the undulations in the dive profile that resulted (or not) in prey capture. This methodology allowed the number of prey consumed to be estimated with a mean error of 10±6% using TDR data alone. If the mean mass of prey is known, then the overall mass of prey consumed per unit time can be determined. Additionally, the method allows estimation of the depth at which prey is taken and thus indicates how penguins exploit the water column. Due to its simplicity, the proposed methodology has applications for other Spheniscus penguin species and should be considered for other marine endotherm divers that show undulations in the dive depth profile.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Saving by freezing? Metabolic rates of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Adamussium colbecki</Emphasis> in a latitudinal context

Standard metabolic rates of the endemic Antarctic scallop, Adamussium colbecki (Smith, 1902), were measured in austral summer and under simulated winter conditions. Average mass-specific metabolic rates were significantly different between "summer" (151.17±45.06 µl O ₂ g ^-1 h ^-1) and "winter" (106.52±39.65 µl O ₂ g ^-1 h ^-1) animals. The overall metabolic rates of A. colbecki are comparable to those of other Antarctic bivalve species, but well below those of temperate scallop species. Data for 24 scallop populations (13 species) from different latitudes give no evidence for elevated metabolic rates in A. colbecki as suggested by the concept of "metabolic cold adaptation". A world-wide comparison of metabolic rate and overall growth performance of scallops indicates that in the Antarctic scallop the energetic advantage of low basal metabolism does not counterbalance the disadvantage of the prolonged seasonal period of food shortage.