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Here we present a new, pan-North-Atlantic compilation of data on key mesozooplankton species, including the most important copepod, Calanus finmarchicus. Distributional data of eight representative zooplankton taxa, from recent (2000–2009) Continuous Plankton Recorder data, are presented, along with basin-scale data of the phytoplankton colour index. Then we present a compilation of data on C. finmarchicus, including observations of abundance, demography, egg production and female size, with accompanying data on temperature and chlorophyll. This is a contribution by Canadian, European and US scientists and their institutions: http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.820732, http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.824423, http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.828393 (please also see Melle et al., 2013; Castellani and Licandro, 2013; Jónasdóttir et al., 2014).

This paper addresses relationships between the distribution and abundance of zooplankton and its habitat in the northern North Atlantic Ocean. Distributions of ten representative zooplankton taxa, from recent (2000-2009) Continuous Plankton Recorder data, are presented, along with basin-scale patterns of annual sea surface temperature and phytoplankton color. The distribution patterns represent the manifestation of very different physiological, life history and ecological interactions of each taxon with the North Atlantic habitat characteristics. The paper then focuses on a pan-Atlantic compilation of demographic and life history information for the planktonic copepod, Calanus finmarchicus, perhaps one of the most ecologically important and certainly the most studied zooplankton species in the North Atlantic. Abundance, dormancy, egg production and mortality in relation to temperature and phytoplankton biomass, using chlorophyll a as a proxy, are analyzed in the context of understanding factors involved in determining the distribution and abundance of C. finmarchicus across its range. Several themes emerge: (1) transport of C. finmarchicus is from the south to the north in the northeast Atlantic, but from the north to the south in the western North Atlantic, which has implications for understanding population responses to climate forcing on coastal shelves, , (2) recruitment to the youngest copepodite stages occurs during or just after the phytoplankton bloom in the east while it occurs after the bloom in many western sites, (3) while the deep basins in the Labrador Sea and Norwegian Sea are primary sources of C. finmarchicus production, the western North Atlantic marginal seas have an important role in sustaining high C. finmarchicus abundance on the western North Atlantic shelves, (4) differences in mean temperature and chlorophyll concentration between the western and eastern North Atlantic are reflected in regional differences in female body size and egg production responses, (5) differences in functional responses in egg production rate may reflect genetic differences between western and eastern populations, (6) dormancy duration is generally shorter in the deep waters adjacent to the lower latitude western North Atlantic shelves than in the east, and (7) differences in stage-specific mortality rates are related to bathymetry, temperature and potential predators, notably the abundance of congeners Calanus hyperboreus and C. glacialis, which likely feed on early life stages of C. finmarchicus. Two modeling approaches have previously been used to interpret the abundance and distribution of C. finmarchicus in relation to the North Atlantic habitat. A statistical approach based on ecological niche theory and a dynamical modeling approach, based on knowledge of spatial population dynamics and life history and implemented by recent developments in coupled physical-life cycle modeling. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are discussed. A synthesis of the two modeling approaches to predict North Atlantic zooplankton species shifts, not only for C. finmarchicus, but also for other major taxa, is advocated. While the computational resource requirements and lack of species-specific life history information for physical-biological modeling hinder full application for many zooplankton taxa, use of the approach, where possible, to understand advective influences will provide insight for interpretation of statistical predictions from species distribution models.

New baseline information is presented on biogeography, abundance and distri-bution of euphausiids from discrete depth samples collected throughout the watercolumn to 3000 m at 42 locations along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) betweenIceland and the Azores. Eighteen species were recorded, with Euphausia krohni andThysanoessa longicaudata being most abundant. Eight species had not been recordedin the area previously. The Subpolar Front is a northern boundary to somesouthern species, but not a southern boundary to northern ubiquitous species thatshow submergence. Four major species assemblages were identified and character-ized in terms of spatial distribution and species composition. Numerical abun-dance was highly variable but decreased logarithmically with depth. The greatestaverage abundance and the greatest spatial variation in abundance occurred innorthern waters, over the Reykjanes Ridge. Abundance declined less with depth inthe sub-Arctic Intermediate Water/North Atlantic Current Water than in otherareas and water masses. The near bottom layer (0–200 m from the seabed) hadtypically low density of euphausiids. The MAR is generally deeper than the usualdepth distribution of euphausiids (0–300 m), but many species conduct verticalmigrations to ridge crest depths. Euphausiid distribution and abundance patternsappeared only weakly affected by the MAR.KEYWORDS: zooplankton; Euphausiacea; oceanic; deepwater; biogeography;communities; Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Primary production and environmental influences on its intensity were studied on the Faroe shelf during 2004 and 2005. The study area is a small neritic ecosystem, which is relatively well (although variably) separated from the surrounding oceanic environment. Diatoms dominated during the spring bloom in 2004, but due to a combination of low concentrations of essential nutrients, and an apparent shift in the primary nitrogen source from nitrate to regenerated nitrogen, the phytoplankton species composition changed to a dominance of the small flagellate Phaeocystis pouchetii in July. In 2005, the nutrient concentrations did not reach the same low values as in summer 2004, and diatoms dominated the phytoplankton species composition during the productive season. Primary production, based on the 14 C-technique, showed a linear relationship to primary production, based on the Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer-technique (FRRF), with a regression slope of 1.5 and an r 2 of 0.85. The timing and magnitude of the spring bloom on the shelf is highly variable interannually. Favourable conditions for phytoplankton growth, in terms of the critical depth, were met in March. However, the spring bloom did not occur before mid-May. The specific primary production was high in April and throughout the productive season but was not reflected in the phytoplankton biomass. On the other hand the pattern in the phytoplankton biomass was reflected in the total primary production, indicating the importance of phytoplankton accumulation for bloom development. Advection, most likely, caused most of the apparent loss of primary production during pre-bloom, while grazing by the copepod community accounted for ~ 10% of the loss. Thus, spring bloom formation in the area depends highly on the spatial dispersal of phytoplankton biomass. The annual primary production on the shelf, based on the 14 C-technique, was 201 g C m − 2 y − 1 . Approximately 77 g C m − 2 y − 1 was based on nitrate as nitrogen source, corresponding to a f -ratio of approximately 0.4.

Measurements of hydrography, chlorophyll a, abundance, egg production rates and gut fluorescence of Calanus finmarchicus were made on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, along a north–south transect extending from Iceland to the Azores (∼60–44°N, 25–35°W) in June 2004. In addition, similar data were sampled in the Irminger Sea and on the Reykjanes Ridge in June 2003. The results show marked differences in abundance, phytoplankton ingestion rates and egg production rates from north to south. C. finmarchicus was most abundant in the central Irminger Sea (∼80,000–160,000 individuals m−2, 0–100 m), with abundance declining drastically (

Copepod community ingestion rates of Calanus finmarchicus, Temora longicornis, Acartia longiremis and Pseudocalanus spp., and egg production rates of C. finmarchicus and T. longicornis, were studied in relation to phytoplankton composition, abundance and biomass on the Faroe shelf during a one-year cycle. The phytoplankton community during winter was mainly composed of small flagellates and the copepods of Pseudocalanus spp. As the spring bloom progressed, diatoms increased in abundance and dominated the biomass throughout summer. C. finmarchicus increased in numbers in early spring, while T. longicornis and A. longiremis dominated the community during summer and autumn. While no response in ingestion rates was observed for A. longiremis and Pseudocalanus spp. with increasing diatom biomass, both ingestion rates and egg production of C. finmarchicus and T. longicornis, generally increased, showing a dependence upon diatoms for production. The daily ingestion for C. finmarchicus females was 7% and 22% of body biomass during the pre-bloom and bloom period, respectively, while for T. longicornis females it was 33% and 56% and for A. longiremis females 22% and 33%, respectively. C. finmarchicus accounted for more than 80% of the total copepod ingestion in May, but in mid- and late summer, T. longicornis and A. longiremis dominated, and represented 80–90% of the total copepod ingestion. The proportion of reproductively mature C. finmarchicus increased as the phytoplankton biomass increased. Most of the time there was good agreement between herbivorous ingestion rates and calculated carbon demand for the observed egg production. However, both species showed a peak in egg production prior to the phytoplankton spring-bloom.

Here we present a new, pan-Atlantic compilation of data on key mesozooplankton species, including the possibly most important copepod, Calanus finmarchicus. Distributional data of ten representative zooplankton taxa, from recent (2000–2009) Continuous Plankton Recorder data, are presented, along with basin-scale data of the phytoplankton colour index. Then we present a compilation of data on C. finmarchicus including observations of abundance, demography, egg production and female size with accompanying data on temperature and chlorophyll. This is a contribution by Canadian, European and US scientists and their institutions. http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.820732, http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.824423, http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.828393.

Objective. To examine causes of perinatal mortality in the Faroe Islands, where it has been increased compared to other Nordic societies.Method. Cases were classified according to a fetal/obstetric, a fetal/neonatal, and a fetal/obstetric/neonatal classification (classifications C1, C2, and C3, respectively).Setting. The Faroe Islands 1986–1995; as reference materials were used a) the preceding decade in the Faroes and b) a parallel period in Denmark.Subjects. We examined all available information regarding each case from hospital records, midwife records, birth certificates, death certificates and autopsy records.Results. The perinatal mortality was 10.3 per 1,000 total births (83/8,096) compared with 13.7 (102/7,458) in the preceding decade; the fall could be attributed to fewer cases with preeclampsia, antepartum bleedings (C1) and antepartum asphyxia (C2) and the number fell despite an increased occurrence of cases attributed to congenital malformations. Perinatal mortality in Denmark was 8.3 (4,574/5...

The study comprises a data set of CTD, optical properties—K 0(PAR), c p, a(PAR), b(PAR)—and optical constituents—Chl a, SPM, CDOM—from 72 shelf and off-shelf stations in the Faroe Islands (62°N, 7°W) North East Atlantic, in early spring 2005. Results showed that shelf waters surrounding the islands were cold and low saline, whereas off-shelf waters were warmer (~1°C) and more saline (~0.05) PSU. A pronounced oceanographic front separated the two waters, and diffuse light attenuation K 0(PAR), beam attenuation c p, Chl a, absorption a(PAR), and scattering coefficient b(PAR) were all significantly higher on the shelf. Analyses showed that off-shelf light attenuation K 0(PAR) was governed by Chl a, shown by a high (r 2 = 0.64) Chl a–K 0(PAR) correlation, whereas light attenuation on the shelf was governed by both Chl a, SPM, and CDOM in combination. A Chl a specific diffuse attenuation coefficient $$ K_{0}^{*} \left( {\text{PAR}} \right) $$ of 0.056 (m2 mg−1 Chl a) and a Chl a specific beam attenuation ( $$ c_{\text{p}}^{*} $$ ) of 0.27 (m2 mg−1 Chl a) coefficients were derived for the off-shelf. It is pointed out that Chl a is the single variable that changes over time as no rivers with high SPM and CDOM enter the shelf area. Data were obtained in early spring, and Chl a concentrations were low ~0.5 mg Chl a m−3. Spring bloom Chl a are about 10 mg Chl a m−3 and estimations showed that shelf K 0(PAR) will increase about 5 times and beam attenuation about 10 times. The Faroe Islands shelf–off-shelf waters is a clear example where physical conditions maintain some clear differences in optical properties and optical constituents. The complete data set is enclosed.

Anbefaling om, at man ophører med at anvende grindehval som menneskeføde. Offentliggjort af the Health Promotion Advisory Committee of the Faroe Islands på www.fyribyrg.fo. Recommendation of discontinuation of the use of pilot whale for human consumption.Released by the Health Promotion Advisory Committee of the Faroe Islands på www.fyribyrg.fo.

Chlamydophila psittaci was detected in 10% of 431 ful- mars examined from the Faroe Islands. Analysis of ompA showed a sequence almost identical to that of the type strain. The origin of C. psittaci outbreaks in fulmars is dis- cussed. Despite a high level of exposure, the risk for trans- mission of C. psittaci to humans is low.