Spatial and inter-annual variability of proto- and metazooplankton during summer around the Kneiss Islands (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract We studied the distribution of proto- and metazooplankton coupled with environmental factors in the coast area around Kneiss Islands (Central Mediterranean Sea). Zooplanktonic communities were sampled during summer 2009 and summer 2010 at three stations. Our results showed difference in suspended matter concentrations between summer 2009 (92.88 ± 7.15 mg L−1) and summer 2010 (47.37 ± 23.12 mg L−1). Large variations in the N/P ratio were recorded (6.94–36.76) due to the direct influence of the variability in concentration of both the dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved inorganic phosphate components of the ratio. Ciliates abundance peaked in summer 2009 and was 3 times more abundant than summer 2010. Ciliates community composition was dominated by loricate ciliates (75% of total ciliates) in summer 2009 and naked ciliates (56% of total ciliates) in summer 2010. Copepods were the most abundant metazooplankton present during the entire study period, comprising 30–96% of the total metazooplankton community. Small planktonic copepods reached important abundance, particularly oithonids, were found to largely dominate copepods community in both summer 2009 (Oithona nana, 45% of total copepods) and summer 2010 (Oithona similis, 22% of total copepods). The small planktonic species Paracalanus parvus (54% of total copepods) was abundant during summer 2010. The results also indicate that (1) ciliates abundance was very low, showing a possible predation by copepods and also by heterotrophic dinoflagellates, (2) copepods capable to complete a top-down control on phytoplankton and ciliates, with preference to ciliates more than diatoms of similar size and shape and (3) the resistance of loricate ciliates compared to naked ciliates may be explained by their capacity to escape grazing due to the existence of a protective lorica.