Ecological Analysis of Spatial a Temporal Patterns of Pelangic Ecosystem Components Potentially Interacting with an OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) Plant Near Punta Tuna, Puerto Rico - Zooplankton Characteristics

摘要

Diel and bimonthly variations in horizontal distributions of selected zooplankton higher taxa and species were followed within the upper 100 meters off the south coast of Puerto Rico during 1980. Spatial patternexamined encompassed scales of kilometers to hundreds of kilometers. A series of oblique tows with 0.75 m diameter, 202 u mesh nets were taken to estimate zooplankton abundances and hydrocasts made for measures of a number of habitat variables. The observed seasonal pattern is compatible with the hypothesis that the forcing mechanism driving seasonality is input of nutrients into the euphotic zone by upwelling along the periphery of large, low salinity lenses of surface water passing through the region.