Length-Weight Relationships for Several Copepods Dominant in the Georges Bank-Gulf of Maine Area

Abstract

Several existing length-weight relationships for the copepods Pseudocalanus sp., Paracalanus parvus, Centropages typicus, Centropages hamatus, Oithona sp., Calanus finmarchicus, and Acartia sp., which are common in the surface waters of the Georges Bank-Gulf of Maine area, are examined and possible sources of variation among the relationships are discussed. Ideally, length and weight measurements should be carried out on fresh specimens and specific equations determined for all stages of each species at different times and locations. However, this procedure, which may be applicable to small-scale studies involving a limited number of taxonomic groups, is too time-consuming and expensive for use in general monitoring studies. In situ methods, currently being developed for recording standing crop in order to estimate productivity, will be more cost-effective for broad-scale monitoring surveys.