Fine-scale spatial patterns in the coastal epiplankton off southern California

Fine-scale vertical (5 – 40 m) and horizontal (50 – 500 m) patterns of temperature, chlorophyll and abundance of zooplankton species were sampled with a pump filtration system in the surface waters offshore of San Diego in May and October, 1978. Intense and consistent patterns were most apparent in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plankton research 1983, Vol.5 (6), p.865-879
Main Author: FIEDLER, P. C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Sea water ecosystems
Synecology
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Summary:Fine-scale vertical (5 – 40 m) and horizontal (50 – 500 m) patterns of temperature, chlorophyll and abundance of zooplankton species were sampled with a pump filtration system in the surface waters offshore of San Diego in May and October, 1978. Intense and consistent patterns were most apparent in vertical profiles. Herbivorous zooplankton were more consistently associated with the estimated primary productivity maximum than with the deeper chlorophyll maximum layer, which represented a phytoplankton biomass maximum. Predators were positively correlated with abundant potential prey species. Variations in body length with depth suggest that these fine-scale patterns were sufficiently stable to influence zooplankton growth. Consequences for grazing and predator – prey interactions in pelagic ecosystems are discussed.
ISSN:0142-7873
1464-3774
DOI:10.1093/plankt/5.6.865