Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical Measurements
Interactions between predators and their prey are important in shaping planktonic ecosystems. However, these interactions are difficult to assess in situ at the spatial scales relevant to the organisms. This work presents high spatial resolution observations of the nighttime vertical distributions o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00602/full |
| _version_ | 1817986485307047936 |
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| author | Christian Briseño-Avena Christian Briseño-Avena Jennifer C. Prairie Peter J. S. Franks Jules S. Jaffe |
| author_facet | Christian Briseño-Avena Christian Briseño-Avena Jennifer C. Prairie Peter J. S. Franks Jules S. Jaffe |
| author_sort | Christian Briseño-Avena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Interactions between predators and their prey are important in shaping planktonic ecosystems. However, these interactions are difficult to assess in situ at the spatial scales relevant to the organisms. This work presents high spatial resolution observations of the nighttime vertical distributions of individual zooplankton, chlorophyll-a fluorescence, and marine snow in stratified coastal waters of the Southern California Bight. Data were obtained using a planar laser imaging fluorometer (PLIF) augmented with a shadowgraph zooplankton imaging system (O-Cam) mounted along with ancillary sensors on a free-descent platform. Fluorometer and PLIF sensors detected two well-defined and distinct peaks: the subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) and a fluorescent particle maximum (FPM) dominated by large marine snow. The O-Cam imaging system allows reliable estimates of concentrations of crustacean and gelatinous zooplankton groups; we found that grazers and their predators had well-structured nighttime distributions in and around the SCM and FPM in ways that suggested potential predator avoidance at the peak of the SCM and immediately above the FPM (where predatory hydromedusae, and to some degree euphausiids, were primarily located). Calanoid copepods were found above the SCM while cyclopoids were associated with the FPM. The locations of predator and grazer concentration peaks suggest that their dynamics may control the vertical gradients defining the SCM and FPM. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:09:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa3912caf62d440a9ca1c04e79959655 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:09:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa3912caf62d440a9ca1c04e799596552022-12-22T02:23:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452020-07-01710.3389/fmars.2020.00602529537Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical MeasurementsChristian Briseño-Avena0Christian Briseño-Avena1Jennifer C. Prairie2Peter J. S. Franks3Jules S. Jaffe4Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Ocean Sciences, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesInteractions between predators and their prey are important in shaping planktonic ecosystems. However, these interactions are difficult to assess in situ at the spatial scales relevant to the organisms. This work presents high spatial resolution observations of the nighttime vertical distributions of individual zooplankton, chlorophyll-a fluorescence, and marine snow in stratified coastal waters of the Southern California Bight. Data were obtained using a planar laser imaging fluorometer (PLIF) augmented with a shadowgraph zooplankton imaging system (O-Cam) mounted along with ancillary sensors on a free-descent platform. Fluorometer and PLIF sensors detected two well-defined and distinct peaks: the subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) and a fluorescent particle maximum (FPM) dominated by large marine snow. The O-Cam imaging system allows reliable estimates of concentrations of crustacean and gelatinous zooplankton groups; we found that grazers and their predators had well-structured nighttime distributions in and around the SCM and FPM in ways that suggested potential predator avoidance at the peak of the SCM and immediately above the FPM (where predatory hydromedusae, and to some degree euphausiids, were primarily located). Calanoid copepods were found above the SCM while cyclopoids were associated with the FPM. The locations of predator and grazer concentration peaks suggest that their dynamics may control the vertical gradients defining the SCM and FPM.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00602/fullmarine snowsubsurface chlorophyll maximumzooplanktondensity coordinatesin situ |
| spellingShingle | Christian Briseño-Avena Christian Briseño-Avena Jennifer C. Prairie Peter J. S. Franks Jules S. Jaffe Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical Measurements Frontiers in Marine Science marine snow subsurface chlorophyll maximum zooplankton density coordinates in situ |
| title | Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical Measurements |
| title_full | Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical Measurements |
| title_fullStr | Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical Measurements |
| title_short | Comparing Vertical Distributions of Chl-a Fluorescence, Marine Snow, and Taxon-Specific Zooplankton in Relation to Density Using High-Resolution Optical Measurements |
| title_sort | comparing vertical distributions of chl a fluorescence marine snow and taxon specific zooplankton in relation to density using high resolution optical measurements |
| topic | marine snow subsurface chlorophyll maximum zooplankton density coordinates in situ |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00602/full |
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