Zooplankton Aggregations in the Great South Channel and their Interactions with Right Whales

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The Great South Channel region contains unusually abundant populations of three endangered whale species: right, humpback and fin whales, and their principle prey items in the zooplankton, copepods. The South Channel Ocean Productivity Experiment (SCOPEX) will look at the physical oceanographic and biological/ecological mechanisms responsible for these aggregations. Using both aerial and ship-based surveys (visual, acoustics, tows), the distribution and abundance of right whales and zooplankton in the region will be determined. Detailed distributional and behavioral observations of these animals, including data from intensive sonar and radio-tagging studies, primary production assessments and hydrographic characterization will provide tests of hypotheses on how the aggregations form and are maintained. This component will focus on the phytoplankton and zooplankton investigations.