Spatial variations in zooplankton community structure along the Japanese coastline in the Japan Sea: influence of the coastal current

Summary

This 15-year observational study examined spatial patterns in zooplankton community structure along the Japanese coast of the Japan Sea, revealing distinct west–east community compositions driven primarily by the coastal branch of the Tsushima Warm Current (CBTWC). Distance-based redundancy analysis identified water column temperature as the dominant explanatory variable (89.9 % of variation), with warm-water and cold-water species distributions reflecting spatial variation in CBTWC intrusion. The study demonstrates how bathymetric features, particularly submarine canyons in Toyama Bay, moderate oceanographic influences on zooplankton assemblages.

UK applicability

This study's findings on temperature-driven zooplankton community structure and current-mediated species distribution have limited direct applicability to UK waters, which are subject to different oceanographic regimes (Atlantic currents, North Sea conditions). However, the methodological approach—using zooplankton species composition as an indicator of water mass characteristics—may inform UK coastal monitoring programmes for climate-driven ecological change.

Key measures

Zooplankton density (individuals per cubic metre); morphological identification of zooplankton taxa; water column mean temperature; distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) axes explaining community variation

Outcomes reported

The study measured spatial variations in zooplankton community density and composition along the Japanese coast over a 15-year period, identifying distinct community structures between western and eastern regions. Water column mean temperature and coastal current intrusion patterns were found to be the primary drivers of observed zooplankton community variation.

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