Physical control of zooplankton distribution at the Strait of Gibraltar during an episode of internal wave generation

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 408:79-95 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08566 Physical control of zooplankton distribution at the Strait of Gibraltar during an episode of internal wave generation D. Macías1,2,*, R. Somavilla3, J. I. González-Gordillo4,5, F. Echevarría1,5 1Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 1150 Cádiz, Spain 2Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, USA 3Centro Oceanográfico de Santander, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Promontorio de San Martin s/n, 39080 Santander, Spain 4Centro Andaluz de Ciencia y Tecnología Marina (CACYTMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Cádiz, Spain 5Unidad Asociada de Oceanografía Interdisciplinar UCA-CSIC, 11510 Cádiz, Spain *Email: diego.macias@uca.es ABSTRACT: We analyzed the effect of physical forcing on zooplankton biomass distribution in the Strait of Gibraltar as a function of tidal phase. A set of 5 Longhurst-Hardy-Plankton-Recorder (LHPR) casts were made along the main channel of the Strait during different phases of the tidal cycle to determine how the hydrological processes taking place in the strait (mainly internal wave generation) influenced the distribution and taxonomic composition of zooplankton biomass. A CTD coupled to the LHPR net allowed a detailed study of the hydrological patterns created by the generation and development of the internal waves. Plankton samples were analyzed using a semi-automatic method for zooplankton discrimination (plankton visual analyzer) which is able to differentiate each individual within a sample into specific taxonomic groups. The results show that the internal wave generation on the main channel of the strait induces divergent processes causing a reduction of the zooplankton biomass. Flow patterns within the internal waves lead to alternating bands of high and low zooplankton biomass with varying taxonomic composition. Changes in taxonomic composition appear to be the result of spatial differentiation between smaller (weak-swimming) and larger (strong-swimming) taxa. This work demonstrates the necessity to consider and understand physical processes when addressing biological patterns, especially in regions with intense hydrodynamic regimes. KEY WORDS: Strait of Gibraltar · Internal waves · Physical forcing · Zooplankton distribution Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Macías D, Somavilla R, González-Gordillo JI, Echevarría F (2010) Physical control of zooplankton distribution at the Strait of Gibraltar during an episode of internal wave generation. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 408:79-95. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08566 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 408. Online publication date: June 03, 2010 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.