Production de chitine par les crustaces du zooplancton de la baie de Calvi (Corse)

Chitin was estimated in samples of planktonic crustaceans living in Calvi Bay (Corsica). The percentages of chitin, with respect to dry weight, are comprised between 3.10% in Clausocalanus spp. and 12.22% in Cladocera (mainly Evadne ). The percentage of chitin remained approximatively constant during larval development in Calanus helgolandicus (3.26%). Using these results and the values of total biomass and production estimated by Dauby (1985) at the same place during a complete annual cycle (1983-1984), chitin biomass and production were calculated for every planktonic crustacean species (or group of species) and for the whole crustacean plankton. Daily chitin production was maximum during May (20.06 mg.m super(-2)/d). As far as the whole year is considered (March 1983 to February 1984), chitin planktonic production was estimated to 1.0014 g.m super(-2).