In addition, if the pico-size phytoplanktons dominate, then the
importance of microbial loop may become more prominent. Bacteria,
flagellates, ciliates and pico-plankton may have a more significant
impact on higher trophic levels. Multivariate analysis based on the
copepod assemblage resulted in the recognition of five groups corresponding
to the different water masses in the East China Sea and YS,
and the one in the YSCWM is the most notable one (Zuo et al., 2006).
During summer, the low Chl a biomass in the central YS leads to the
copepodite stage V (C5) dominating the population, and the reproduction
of the dominant species (Calanus sinicus) nearly ceases during summer,
with most of the females remaining at stages GS1 and GS2 inside