The spatial distribution of euphausiid aggregations in the Northern California Current during August 2000

Patrick H. Ressler*, Richard D. Brodeur, William T. Peterson, Stephen D. Pierce, P. Mitchell Vance, Anders Røstad, John A. Barth

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

The location and size of euphausiid aggregations (patches) were identified using acoustic volume backscattering strength at 38 and 120 kHz and vertically stratified MOCNESS sampling during a US GLOBEC cruise off southern Oregon and northern California in August 2000. Euphausiid patches were clustered inshore of Heceta Bank (44.0°N) and off Cape Blanco (42.8°N), but were not common elsewhere. The distribution of euphausiid patches throughout the study area was correlated with that of near-surface chlorophyll. We suggest that Heceta Bank and Cape Blanco were zones of plankton retention and concentration along the shelf and slope, and also that large offshore meanders in the equatorward upwelling jet carried upwelled water, chlorophyll, and euphausiids offshore. In particular, the complex interaction of mesoscale physical features, shoaling bottom topography, and diel vertical migration created large patches of euphausiids. These euphausiid patches, probably persisting on timescales of days to weeks, could function as relatively large and persistent resources for euphausiid predators.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)89-108
Number of pages20
JournalDeep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
Volume52
Issue number1-2 SPEC. ISS.
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography

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