@article{fdi:010064860, title = {{E}nvironmental controlling factors of copepod communities in the {G}ulf of {T}unis (south western {M}editerranean {S}ea)}, author = {{B}en {L}amine, {Y}. and {P}ringault, {O}livier and {A}issi, {M}. and {E}nsibi, {C}. and {M}ahmoudi, {E}. and {D}aly {Y}ahia {K}efi, {O}. and {D}aly {Y}ahia, {M}. {N}.}, editor = {}, language = {{ENG}}, abstract = {{T}he copepod community structure and the distribution of the main groups of zooplankton were studied along an inshore-offshore gradient in the {G}ulf of {T}unis during the rainy and dry seasons of 2007-2008. {H}ydrological parameters were also measured to assess the potential role of abiotic and biotic factors in the distribution of copepod species. {T}he copepod community in the {G}ulf of {T}unis comprises 86 species dominated by {P}aracalanus parvus, {C}lausocalanus lividus, {C}entropages kroyeri and {A}cartia clausi. {T}ime had a greater influence than space (horizontal and vertical gradients) in shaping the copepod community structure with a significant influence of the seasons; winter (cold and rainy) resulted in hydrological conditions that were strongly different from those observed in summer (warm and dry). {T}hese hydrological differences were concomitant with changes in the community structure, with a high copepod diversity observed in winter while the summer period was characterized by a low specific richness and the dominance of a few species, {C}entropages kroyeri and {P}aracalanus parvus along the inshore-offshore gradient and {P}aracalanus aculeatus along the vertical. {C}anonical correspondence analysis showed that temperature, salinity and to a lesser extent chlorophyll a were the most important environmental factors structuring the copepod community. {I}nterestingly, temperature and salinity showed a negative significant correlation with copepod specific richness. {C}ompetition with grazers (cladoceran) as well as top down control by predators (chaetognaths and siphonophors) were also identified as key factors for the copepod community structure.}, keywords = {{C}opepod diversity ; {M}ultivariate analysis ; {T}emperature ; {S}alinity ; {T}op-down control ; {C}ompetition ; {MEDITERRANEE} ; {TUNISIE} ; {TUNIS} {GOLFE}}, booktitle = {}, journal = {{C}ahiers de {B}iologie {M}arine}, volume = {56}, numero = {3}, pages = {213--229}, ISSN = {0007-9723}, year = {2015}, URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064860}, }