The China Coastal Current as a driving force for transporting Calanus sinicus (Copepoda: Calanoida) from its population centers to waters off Taiwan and Hong Kong during the winter northeast monsoon period

Calanus sinicus is a copepod with wide geographical distribution in the continental shelf waters of China. Its occurrence in oceans around Taiwan and Hong Kong is limited by temperature to winter and spring. We present evidence to show that C. sinicus is carried into the coastal waters of Taiwan and Hong Kong from population centers in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea by the China Coastal Current during the northeast monsoon period in winter.