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Email the author (Login required) The first continuous plankton sampling by VOR (Towed Oceanographic Vehicle) in southeastern and southern Brazil waters
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol44-issue5-fulltext-6
Abstract
Plankton sampling with the Continuous Plankton Sampling survey has been conducted since 1938 in the Northern Atlantic Ocean and North Sea, where in both cases historical records have documented climate change. Plankton sampling with the VOR (Towed Oceanographic Vehicle) on industrial fishing boats was performed in May-June of 2013 off the southeastern and southern coasts of Brazil (between 23º00`S44º21`W and 31º15`S-50º06`W). The speed of VOR towing onboard the fishing vessels was 8-10 knots to 10- 12 m of depth. The size of mesh silk used was 250-270 μm. The total of taxa is 73 phytoplankton, 26 zooplankton, 10 protozooplankton (Ciliophora) and ichityoplankton (fish eggs) were recorded. The dominant phytoplankton groups detected were diatoms and dinoflagellates, although cyanobacteria were also abundant in the southeast region. The zooplankton with a size class of less than 2 mm was the most frequent. A positive correlation was observed between herbivorous zooplankton and phytoplankton in the coastal waters.
