Biological processes in the water column of the South Atlantic Bight: Zooplankton responses: Progress report, June 1988--June 1989

Technical Report · Tue Feb 07 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6439323

Paffenhoefer, G A

It is our objective to determine the major processes governing the abundance, composition and disruption of zooplankton as part of the interdisciplinary southeastern US continental shelf program of the Department of Energy. We will study the effects of physical processes such as along- and cross shelf advection and frontogenesis, on the development and fate of zooplankton populations during winter. Our proposed research consists of shipboard sampling, laboratory experiments and in situ determination of zooplankton abundance over time. The last objective represents a novel approach because the observations are (a) non-destructive with great spatial resolution, and (b) occur on current meter arrays at similar scales as measurements of current velocity and direction. Results to date show prolonged residence times of upwelled water masses on the middle and inner shelf during summer which results in the development of massive copepod and tunicate populations. During spring, the extent of displacement of nearshore zooplankton was a function of wind stress. Our results can be used to predict the impact of energy-related technology on the ecosystem of the southeastern continental shelf. 8 refs., 6 figs.

• Research Organization: Skidaway Inst. of Oceanography, Savannah, GA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG09-85ER60354
• OSTI ID: 6439323
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60354-T4; ON: DE89006828
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580500* -- Oceanography-- (1980-1989)
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
COASTAL WATERS
DISTRIBUTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
NITROGEN CYCLE
NORTH AMERICA
OCEANOGRAPHY
PHYTOPLANKTON
PLANKTON
PROGRESS REPORT
SEAS
SOUTH ATLANTIC BIGHT
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE WATERS
UPWELLING
USA
ZOOPLANKTON