RT journal article
T1 Physical control on zooplankton distribution at the strait of Gibraltar during an episode of internal wave generation
A1 Macías, D.
A1 Somavilla, R.
A1 González Gordillo, Juan Ignacio
A1 Echevarría Navas, Fidel María
A2 Biología
K1 Internal waves
K1 Physical forcing
K1 Zooplankton distribution
AB We analyzed the effect of physical forcing on zooplankton biomass distribution in theStrait 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 todetermine how the hydrological processes taking place in the strait (mainly internal wave generation)influenced the distribution and taxonomic composition of zooplankton biomass. A CTD coupledto the LHPR net allowed a detailed study of the hydrological patterns created by the generation anddevelopment of the internal waves. Plankton samples were analyzed using a semi-automatic methodfor zooplankton discrimination (plankton visual analyzer) which is able to differentiate each individualwithin a sample into specific taxonomic groups. The results show that the internal wave generationon the main channel of the strait induces divergent processes causing a reduction of the zooplanktonbiomass. Flow patterns within the internal waves lead to alternating bands of high and lowzooplankton biomass with varying taxonomic composition. Changes in taxonomic compositionappear 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 physicalprocesses when addressing biological patterns, especially in regions with intense hydrodynamicregimes.
YR 2010
FD 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/16685
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/16685
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 12-nov-2026