This study investigates the tempo-spatial distribution in species composition and abundance of planktonic pteropods in relation to hydrography in the waters around Liu-chiu Yu Island, southwestern Taiwan from February 2006 to October 2007. In total, we recognized 25 pteropod species belonging to 12 genera and six families, with a mean abundance of 7348 ¡Ó 994 ind./ 1000m3. The five most dominant species were Limacina inflata, Creseis virgula var. conica, Creseis acicula, Limacina trochiformis and Creseis clava, together they accounted for 78.7 % of the total pteropods. The surface sea water temperature, salinity, and phytoplankton concen- tration in the waters around Liu-chiu Yu Island were significantly higher in 2006 than in 2007. Pteropod abundance was higher in spring than in other seasons, and higher in deeper waters than in surface waters. Species number of pteropods was significantly higher in 2007 than in 2006, generally higher in summer and lower in autumn, and higher in deeper waters than in surface waters. Species diversity index of pteropods was generally higher in summer and lower in autumn. Cluster analysis of hydrography included 4 clusters (e.g., 2007 summer, summer and autumn, spring and winter, spring), the 2007 summer cluster was different from other seasons. Pteropod assemblage showed apparent difference between seasons, the variation of pteropod assemblages between stations in spring was higher than other seasons. Linear regression showed that the species number (p < 0.01) and diversity index (p < 0.05) were positively correlated with abundance of fish larvae. Abundance of most dominant species of pteropods was significantly and positively correlated with abundance of fish larvae (e.g., Limacina inflata; Creseis virgula var. conica and Limacina trochiformis) and significantly and negatively correlated with phytoplankton abundance (e.g., Limacina inflata, p < 0.001). In addition to the hydrographic factors, the distribution of pteropods might also be affected by predatory fish larvae and phytoplankton supplement.

Abstract There are 22 species of chaetognaths belonging 11 genera and 4 families found in coastal waters around the Kaohsiung and Liuchiu Yu Island from March 1997 to February 1998. The average abundance of chaetognaths was 2527 ¡Ó1659 ind./100m3. The 5 most dominant species were Flaccisagitta enflata, Aidanosagitta crassa, Sagitta bipuncata, Ferosagitta ferox and Serratosagitta pacifica, and comprised > 95% of total chaetognaths. Fl. efnlata was the most common and abundance species, its number occupied 70% of total chaetognaths and occurred in every station. These dominant species showed significant seasonal succession, in that, Fl. Enflata could be found in all seasons, while S. bipuncata was found only in fall and winter. Most of chaetognaths found in this study were pelagic, tropical and temperate species, and most of them are widely distributed in the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian ocean (50% of total species), and in the Indian and the Pacific ocean (41% of total species). In terms of ecological distribution patterns, warm euryhaline species (i.e. Fl. Enflata and Fe. ferox), and warm hyperhaline species (i.e. S. bipuncata and Se. pacifica) dominated in this study areas. The abundance of chaetognaths was higher in fall (4721 ¡Ó8435 ind./100m3) and the lower in spring (1077 ¡Ó995 ind./100m3). The horizontal distribution of chaetognaths was apparently influenced by the runoff of Kaohsiung Habor and Kaoping River, and the peak abundance was usually found in the front of Kaoping river plume. Most chaetognaths (over 60% of total amount) were found in the surface waters (0-5 m), and its abundance abruptly decreased with depth. The scales of day/night vertical migration of chaetognaths were small (generally less than 50 m). Three types of vertical migration were distinguished in this study: Nocturnal migration (i.e. Fl. Enflata and Se. pacifica). Reverse migration (i.e. S. bipuncata ), and Non-migration (i.e. Fe. ferox). The vertical distribution and the distance of vertical migration of most chaetognaths, however, varied seasonally.

The objective of this study is to investigate and characterize the mechanism of the island wake behind an island called Liu Chiu Yu off the southwestern Taiwan coast based on the in-situ data of Sb-ADCP, CTD and satellite images. The findings suggest that a counter-clockwise eddy and a clockwise eddy both are with 0.01 S vortice appears in the wake of Liu Chiu Yu when the background flows are toward the northwest. The system of two eddies with opposite rotation and a central return flow develops an unsteady eddy shedding. On the other hand, when the background flows are toward the southeast, island wake generated in the lee of Liu Chiu Yu is attached system of two eddies with opposite rotation and a central return flow. The Sb-ADCP data shows that the flow pattern in the northeastern coast of Liu Chiu Yu is mainly semidiurnal. The major axis of the ellipse of the semidiurnal current is parallel to the orientation of the coast line (northeast to southwest) and the shape of the ellipse is quite long and narrow. The amplitude of the semidiurnal current is approximately two times that of the diurnal current. Generally, the currents are stronger and the occurring probability of the island wake is higher during spring tide. The CTD data shows that the eddy center appears to be divergent and upwelling occurs in the areas under the influence of island wakes. The upwelling pumps deep seawater to the surface and results in low temperature, high salinity, high oxygen concentration and low chlorophyll concentration. On the other hand, in the eddy edges, downwelling occur causing high temperature, low salinity, low oxygen concentration and high chlorophyll concentration. Strong shear was formed at the depth of 60m inside the island wake which generates thermocline so that the mixing phenomenon is quite obvious there. Moreover, in the regions without the influence of island wakes, the stratifying effect is clear and the horizontal variation of temperature, salinity and oxygen concentration is small. Therefore, neither upwelling nor downwelling occurs there. Furthermore, along the edge between blocking and free-stream areas, the shear stress increases and the mixing phenomenon arises to a certain degree. The satellite images show that an island wake appears in the southeastern Liu Chiu Yu during spring tide. The island wake develops a phenomenon called von Karman vortex street. At the same time, a counter-clockwise eddy with heavy suspensions appears in the northern Liu Chiu Yu. The radius of the eddy is around 4 Km. The area of the lowest chlorophyll concentration is located at the center of the eddy. By analyzing all these data, it is concluded that the island wake in Liu Chiu Yu usually appears during spring tide.