Analysis of imaging data on seasonal changes in the population structure and vertical distribution of two dominant planktonic copepod species in the western subarctic Pacific

Traditionally, zooplankton analyses have relied on stereomicroscopes, but recent advancements in imaging analysis have offered significant advantages, including the simultaneous collection of abundance, size, and biovolume data. In this study, formalin-preserved samples were collected from depths of 0 to 1,000 m across four seasons at a station in the western subarctic Pacific, using the imaging device ZooScan. Two dominant copepod genera, <i>Metridia</i> and <i>Eucalanus</i>, were examined for seasonal changes in abundance, biovolume, and diurnal vertical distribution. ZooScan measurements were taken for each developmental stage to obtain information on the equivalent spherical diameter (ESD). Four <i>Metridia</i> species were identified: <i>M. pacifica</i>, <i>M. okhotensis</i>, <i>M. asymmetrica</i>, and <i>M. curticauda</i>. <i>M. pacifica</i>, the dominant species, had an ESD of 2 mm or less, while the other three species exceeded 2 mm. <i>M. pacifica</i> exhibited diurnal migration to surface layers (0-50 m) at night, while the larger species were primarily located in the deeper layer (750-1,000 m) both day and night. Only one species, <i>E. bungii</i>, was identified in the genus <i>Eucalanus,</i> with size cohorts corresponding to each developmental stage. Its vertical distribution was consistent day and night across seasons, but seasonal changes were evident. In October and February, <i>E. bungii</i> was found at depths of 200-500 m. In April, later developmental stages migrated to shallower depths of 50-200 m, while in July, younger stages (C1-C4) were found at 0-50 m, indicating recent reproduction during the spring phytoplankton bloom. Although it was clear that new individuals emerged in July, understanding the dynamics of later stages and generation time was difficult due to overlapping size distributions, particularly in C5 and C6. The differences in vertical distribution between copepod species reveal important ecological trends: <i>M. pacifica</i> performs diel vertical migration (DVM), while <i>E. bungii</i> exhibits seasonal vertical migration (SVM). <i>M. pacifica</i> shows no clear seasonality in population structure, whereas <i>E. bungii</i> has distinct seasonal patterns. This indicates that both species reproduce near the surface, but <i>E. bungii</i> follows annual life cycles due to its larger size, while <i>M. pacifica</i> reproduces opportunistically throughout the year. Using ZooScan offers significant advantages for studying copepod ecology, enabling precise estimations of ecological fluxes-such as feeding, production, and egestion-through accurate measurements of body sizes and masses. Adopting these methods will enhance our understanding of copepod populations and their ecosystems.