ABSTRACT: The spatial patterns in abundance and composition of benthic invertebrate larvae (meroplankton), the correlation between these patterns and environmental variables (temperature, salinity and chl a) and the relative abundance of meroplankton in the mesozooplankton community were investigated in the sub-Arctic Porsangerfjord, Norway (70°N). Zooplankton samples and CTD-profiles were collected at 17 stations along the fjord in April 2013. A total of 32 morphologically different larval types belonging to 8 phyla were identified. Meroplankton were found at all stations, and their community and abundance differed significantly along the fjord. Meroplankton abundance in the inner and outer parts of the fjord was low and was dominated by Gastropoda and Echinodermata. The greatest numbers were recorded in shallow bays and the middle part of the fjord where Cirripedia and Polychaeta were dominant. Meroplankton contributed significantly to the mesozooplankton community in the bays (30 to 90%) and mid-fjord (13 to 48%) areas. These changes in community structure were attributed to spatial gradients in environmental variables such as chl a, salinity and temperature. The different communities suggested a seasonal succession in reproductive events from the fjord mouth toward the head. Considering that spring is an important season for reproduction in pelagic organisms, meroplankton may play a role in the pelagic ecosystem of high-latitude fjords as grazers and prey. Furthermore, the spatial dynamics and reproductive timing of benthic and holoplanktonic organisms are sensitive to local hydrographical features, illustrating their sensitivity to changing environments.

中文翻译：

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北极亚峡湾春季浮游生物沿环境梯度的空间格局

摘要：在丰度和底栖无脊椎动物幼虫（meroplankton），这些图案和环境变量之间的相关性（温度，盐度和叶绿素的组合物中的空间模式一），并在挪威北北极波森格峡湾（北纬70°）调查了中层浮游生物群落中浮游生物的相对丰度。2013年4月在峡湾沿岸的17个站点采集了浮游动物样本和CTD轮廓图。共鉴定出32种形态不同的幼虫，分别属于8个门。在所有站点都发现了浮游生物，在峡湾中它们的群落和丰度明显不同。峡湾内部和外部的浮游生物丰度较低，主要由腹足纲和棘皮纲为主。记录最多的是浅水湾和峡湾中部，其中Cirripedia和Polychaeta占主导地位。浮游生物对海湾地区（30％至90％）和峡湾中部地区（13％至48％）的中层浮游生物群落做出了重大贡献。a，盐度和温度。不同的社区建议从峡湾口到头部的生殖活动有季节性的连续性。考虑到春季是浮游生物繁殖的重要季节，浮游生物可能在高纬度峡湾的浮游生态系统中扮演放牧者和猎物的角色。此外，底栖生物和全浮游生物的空间动力学和生殖时间对局部水文特征敏感，说明它们对变化的环境敏感。