Population densities, growth, and respiration of the chaetognath Parasagitta elegans in the Canadian high Arctic

The chaetognath population at Resolute in the Canadian high Arctic (75 degrees N) was monitored biweekly during 1993. Parasagitta elegans composed 98.9% of the population, and Eukrohnia hamata made up the remaining 1.1%. The proportion of E. hamata increased east toward Baffin Bay. Parasagitta elegans had a 700-d Life-span at a mean annual temperature of about -1.5 degrees C. The population of P. elegans at Resolute had a mean annual density of 191 . m(-2), weighed 0.409 g dry weight . m(-2), respired 1.259 g O-2 . m(-2). y(-1), and grew 0.566 g dry weight . m(-2). yr(-1), with a 0.40 net growth efficiency and a P:B (production : biomass) ratio of 1.38. It made up 5.7% of the macroplankon biomass by weight, respired 1.5% of its total oxygen consumption, and consumed 1.78 g dry weight prey . m(-2). yr(-1), a minimum of 0.1%. d(-1) or 36% of the mean annual copepod biomass.