Zooplankton of Tikehau atoll (Tuamotu archipelago) and its relationship to particulate matter

The standing stock and taxonomic composition of zooplankton (> 200 microns) were monitored in the lagoon of Tikehau atoll from April 1985 to April 1986. These data were supplemented by two 10 d studies on the variability, structure and functioning of the pelagic ecosystem. The biomass of animals > 2000 comprised 50% of the total biomass of all organisms from 35 to >2000 microns. The zooplankton populations were characterized by successive blooms of copepods, larvaceans, pteropods and salps, probably arising from the periodic input of detritus from the reef during windy period. As a result, the ecosystem was not in a steady state and the data for the fluxes of organic matter are presented separately for april 1985 and april 1986. Using the C:N:P ratio method, net growth efficiencies, K2, were calculated for total mezoplankton, mixed copepods, and two planktonic species, #Undinula vulgaris$ and #Thalia democratica