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Water column structure and zooplankton distribution along Trevor Channel, Barkley Sound Andrew Hamilton.

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Presentation on theme: "Water column structure and zooplankton distribution along Trevor Channel, Barkley Sound Andrew Hamilton."— Presentation transcript:

1 Water column structure and zooplankton distribution along Trevor Channel, Barkley Sound Andrew Hamilton

2 http://collections.ic.gc.ca/

3 Observations Strong sound scattering layer at depth in Trevor Channel Anoxic layer at depth in Trevor Channel Shallow sill restrict water mass mixing Abundant zooplankton collected during net tows

4 Research Question Is spatial variability in zooplankton abundance and distribution related to physical oceanographic parameters? Observations Required Biology: Vertical and horizontal patterns of zooplankton abundance, biomass, and diversity Physics: Profiles of temperature, salinity, and oxygen

5 Significance Zooplankton consume phytoplankton - indication of Primary Productivity Zooplankton consumed by higher trophic levels (fish, whales) Influence local fisheries, aquaculture, ecotourism Physical - biological coupling affects entire ecosystem (productivity, nutrient and carbon cycling)

6 Methods 5 station transect along Trevor Channel Biology: horizontal zooplankton net tows (shallow - 5m, deep - 10m off bottom (20-170m)) Zooplankton abundance, biomass, and diversity Physics: CTD/oxygen profiles

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8 Open ocean Trevor Channel

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13 Results Zooplankton abundance and biomass highest inside Trevor Channel Zooplankton diversity highest in open ocean Higher abundance and biomass at deep sites

14 W W E E Trevor Channel Low Oxygen Low Salinity Open Ocean

15 http://www.awi-bremerhaven.de/Eistour/krill-d.html Krill behavior as recorded by acoustic doppler current profilers in the Gullmarsfjord Liljebladh and Thomasson Journal of Marine Systems (2001)

16 Fig. 5.

17 Zooplankton Mortality Oxygen deficiency Oxygen saturation Ice Krill Maximum

18 Conclusions Zooplankton abundance and distribution is related to water mass characteristics Physical - biological relationship is complex Will directly compare temperature, salinity, and oxygen profiles to zooplankton results More sampling helpful (vertical stratification, duplicate net tows, phytoplankton profiles)

19 Acknowledgements Captain John of RV Alta Chris (for getting dirty) Josie (for tinfoil and lab work) Rich (for CTD crash course) Maite (for baking lessons) High School research assistants (for doing all the work) Thankyou!


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