Abstract
The distribution, biomass, and predator-prey relationships of the pelagic assemblage in Masfjorden, western Norway, was studied in January 1989. The pelagic biomass was dominated by particulate organic matter. Biomasses of copepods, macroplankton, and mesopelagic fishes were of the same order of magnitude, while the biomass of larger pelagic fishes were one order less. Predator-prey relationships seemed most important at intermediate and higher trophic levels. Two sound-scattering layers, consisting of adult Maurolicus muelleri (lower layer) and juvenile M. muelleri (upper layer) performed instantaneous light- dependent vertical migration. Vertical distributions are explained in terms of balancing food demands against predation risk.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 65-81 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Sarsia |
Volume | 75 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 9 1990 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work has been supported by the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities (grant no. 457.871 001 to U. Lie) and the Norwegian Fisheries Research Council (grant no. 1701.244). We thank Eirik Nordby for zooplankton identification and enumeration, Agot Gjertsen for dry weight determinations, and Elin Holm for drawing the figures. We thank captain and crew on RN Hakon Mosby for cooperation and assistance.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
- Ecology