2026/07/15 by Neele Schmidt, Amanda Adam Jansson · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Marine and coastal ecosystems #Marine and coastal plant biology
paper · doi:10.1002/bod2.70032
openalex publication_date 2026/07/15 · openalex created_date 2026/07/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
ABSTRACT Plankton monitoring often assumes spatial homogeneity, sampling only a few sites across large areas. However, environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature, and depth can vary strongly over short distances and can create multiple distinct ecological zones, which support different mesozooplankton assemblages. We investigated mesozooplankton assemblages in three Central and Eastern Baltic Sea bays to assess variability on different spatial scales: between and within bays. Our results revealed notable differences in assemblage composition both between and within bays, associated primarily with salinity and temperature gradients. Higher salinity conditions in Kappelshamnsviken were associated with greater abundances of the calanoid copepods Pseudocalanus sp. and Temora sp., whereas rotifers were more abundant in the less saline bays of Tvären and Baggensfjärden. Even within single bays, spatial differences of less than 1 km produced distinct assemblages. These findings demonstrate that assuming homogeneity can overlook important local variability. Incorporating multiple sampling locations at fine spatial scales is therefore essential for accurately capturing the full range of environmental niches and associated mesozooplankton assemblages in coastal monitoring programs.