SEASONAL-VARIATION IN LIPID CLASS AND FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF 2 SMALL COPEPODS IN BALSFJORDEN, NORTHERN NORWAY

Zooplankton were collected at Svartnes, northern Norway between 1985 and 1986. The lipid class and fatty acid composition of a subarctic population of Pseudocalanus acuspes (Giesbrecht, 1881) and Acartia longiremis Lilljeborg are described for four seasons of the year. The results are discussed in relation to the seasonal variation in abundance and dry weight of the predominant developmental stages. The lipid composition of these small copepod species resembles that of omnivorous or carnivorous species. P. acuspes and A. longiremis overwinter in a state of arrested development, but seem to feed actively throughout the year. This behaviour resembles that of the omnivore Metridia longa (Lubbock), but is in contrast to that of the herbivore Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus) from the same area, which spends the winter in diapause. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.