Temporal and spatial distribution in species composition and abundance of chaetognaths in relation to hydrographic variables in the waters off southern Taiwan were investigated from January 2005 to October 2006. There were 23 species of chaetognaths belonging 4 families and 12 genera recognized in this region. The 4 most dominate species were Flaccisagitta enflata (32.2%), Serratosagitta pacifica (20.6%), Zonosagitta bedfordii (12%) and Pterosagitta draco (8.8%), together comprised about 74% of total chaetognaths. The distribution in abundance of chaetognaths generally decreased from west to east along the transect, and showed clear seasonal change, with the higher abundance occurred from July to October and the lower abundance from January to May. Abundance of chaetognaths increased significantly in July 2006 and positively correlated with the abundance of copepods. Our hydrographic results indicated that South China Sea Current with higher nutrients might dominante over Kuroshio Current in this region from January 2006 to July 2006, and might lead to the increases of phytoplankton (Chl a) and copepods consequently. Furthermore, temperature and salinity also interactively influenced the distribution in abundance and species richness of chaetognaths. Stage I individuals made up the majority of chaetognaths abundance (80%). The breeding period of predominant chaetognaths (F. enflata, S. pacifica, Z. bedfordii and P. draco) are year around. Results from gut content analysis implied that copepods is the main food for chaetognaths in the study area, but the predation impact of chaetognaths on copepods was only about 0.25%¡ã2.47 %.

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.

Abstract The species composition, abundance, body lengths and stages of chaetognaths in relation to environmental factors at nine stations in Kaoping coastal waters were investigated during June 2001 to March 2002. In the surface tows, 20 species of chaetognaths, belonging to 10 families and 4 orders, were found, with the mean abundance of 17753 ¡Ó14593 ind./ 100m3. The 4 most dominant species, Flaccisagitta enflata, Aidanosagitta crassa, Sagitta bipuncata and Ferosagitta ferox, comprised > 80% of total chaetognaths. Flaccisagitta enflata was the most common and abundant species and occupied 53% of total chaetognaths. In 100m oblique tows, 21 species of chaetognaths, belonging to 11 families and 4 orders were found, with the mean abundance of 23535 ¡Ó 18696 ind./ 100m3. The 4 most dominant species were Flaccisagitta enflata, Aidanosagitta regularis, Serratosagitta pacifica and Aidanosagitta crassa, and comprised 77% of total chaetognths. Pseudosagitta lyra was the species found only in the 100m oblique tows. The abundance of chaetognaths changed with seasons and had the highest abundance in summer and the lowest in late autumn. The relation between abundance of chaetognaths showed significantly negative relationship with salinity but not for temperature, and had larger variation when salinity > 32 o/oo. Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) method was used to elucidate the variation of chaetognaths community among seasons and stations. The community structure of chaetognaths had somewhat difference among seasons, with higher similarity between August and November, but these two months showed apparently different from June and March. The variation of chaetognaths community among stations was different seasonally, with higher in August and lower in March and June. Furthermore, three species groups were distinguished and their distribution patterns were herein disscussed. The Stage¢¹of chaetognaths dominated in this study area and occupied > 70 % of total count, and the number decreased rapidly following the developmental stages. The most dominant species, Flaccisagitta enflata, was also dominated by stage¢¹throughout the year, implied it might breed in the whole year. The body length of chaetognaths increased apparently with increasing of developmental stages, but overlapped among stages due to the wider variation in each stage.