Trans-Atlantic Study of Calanus: Overwintering, across shelf advection and spring spawning in Shetland-Faroe and southeastern Icelandic Waters.

The objectives of the subtask are to a) track the Norwegian Sea Deep Water (NSDW) overflow between Faroe Bank and Faroe Plateau, across the Iceland-Faroe ridge and along the shelf edge off southern Iceland and to determine the association between this water and overwintering C. finmarchicus and b) to determine the routes for invasion of these shelf ecosystems by C. finmarchicus in the spring. The campaign of field surveys: 1) mapped the distribution and physiology of Calanus in relation to hydrography in the winter (Dec-Jan) around the Faroe Plateau, Faroe bank, the ridge between Faroe and Icealand and along the southern shelf of Iceland. 2) sampling of Calanus distribution and physiology in the spring (Feb-Apr) in the area between Scotland and Ireland. 3) collection of fine spatial scale hydrographic and vessel mounted ADCP data on the shelf edge currents in the area to be covered by the hydrodynamic modelling activity. Standard transects were be completed on each occasion, forming a baseline for intercomparison of data from the various campaigns, together with a more widespread network of sampling locations covering the shelf margins. The 'standard transects' will coincide with nationally established monitoring stations in Icelandic, Faroese and UK shelf regions so that the data can be viewed in the context of long-term variability in conditions. The following cruises were undertaken: March 12-29, 1996 RV Dana (DIFRES) July 5-16, 1996 RV Vadivia (IfM) Nov 18-Dec 19, 1996 RV Dana (DIFRES) April 2-7, 1997 RV Magnus Heinason (FLF) April 4-19, 1997 RV Dana (DIFRES) DIFRES: Danish Fisheries Research Institute IfM: Institute fur Meerskunde, University of Hamburg FLF: Fisheries Institute of the Faroes