Oithona (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico: Cross-Shelf Distribution, Community Structure, and Sampling Bias

Author

• Marshall Arturo Perry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

7-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences

First Advisor

Diego Figueroa

Second Advisor

Md Saydur Rahman

Third Advisor

Hudson Deyoe

Abstract

Species of the cyclopoid copepod genus Oithona are globally distributed and among the most abundant zooplankton, yet their ecological importance is often underestimated because their small size and slender bodies are poorly retained by conventional mesh sizes. This study examined the distribution, community structure, and relative contribution of Oithona across a cross-shelf gradient in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Morphological identification resolved six Oithona groups; Oithona accounted for 24–42% of total zooplankton abundance, with the highest densities in shallow shelf waters and lower densities offshore. These findings demonstrate that Oithona is a major component of Gulf of Mexico zooplankton communities. The results highlight how traditional coarse-mesh sampling underestimates the abundance of this small copepod, potentially biasing interpretations of marine food web structure and carbon cycling.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Marshall Arturo Perry. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3408996810

Recommended Citation

Perry, M. A. (2026). Oithona (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico: Cross-Shelf Distribution, Community Structure, and Sampling Bias [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1976