Interannual variability in the copepod populations of Georges Bank and the western Gulf of Maine

Abstract

Seasonal patterns of abundance of Calanus finmarchicus and Centropages typicus and that of all other copepods combined were characterized for outer Georges Bank (>60 m depth) and the western Gulf of Maine for 1977 through 1984. An apparent drop in abundance and decay in seasonal patterns was observed in the early 1980s. Significant correlations of annual mean residuals of individual copepod abundance between the 2 areas suggest that the copepod populations of Georges Bank are related to those of the western Gulf of Maine. Significant correlations between these annual mean residuals and environmental parameters, especially water column temperature, were found.