How do Estuarine Turbidity Maxima Entrap Particles, Retain Zooplankton, and Promote Recruitment of Fish?

00-02529和00-02543这是一项跨学科研究，旨在研究切萨皮克湾河口最大浑浊带的基本物理和生物过程。众所周知，位于河口上游、靠近咸水和淡水交界处的ETM区会捕获细小的沉积物，并捕获或聚集浮游动物和鱼类的早期阶段。在切萨皮克湾，上湾出现了一种定义明确但知之甚少的ETM。据推测，ETM捕获沉积物颗粒和浮游生物，进而支持浮游动物产量的增加以及幼鱼的生长和存活。这项研究将描述切萨皮克ETM的成分并评估其运作过程，包括在海湾具有重大生态意义的沉积物和生物。ETM中的一个关键物种是桡足类Eurytemora affinis，它是淡水区鱼类(斑点黑鱼、白鲈、遮阳鱼、河鲱鱼)幼体和幼鱼的主要食物。

00-02529 and 00-02543This is an interdisciplinary study to investigate fundamental physical and biological processes in the Estuarine Turbidity Maximum (ETM) of Chesapeake Bay. ETM zones located in the upper reaches of estuaries, near the interface between salt and fresh water, are known to entrap fine sediments and to entrap or aggregate zooplankton and early-life stages of fish. In Chesapeake Bay, a well-defined but poorly understood ETM occurs in the upper Bay. It is hypothesized that the ETM entraps sediment particles and planktonic organisms which in turn support enhanced zooplankton production and growth and survival of young anadrornous fish. This research will characterize constituents and evaluate processes operating in the Chesapeake ETM, including sediments and organisms that are of major ecological significance in the Bay. A key species in the ETM is the copepod, Eurytemora affinis, which is a major food of larvae and juveniles of anadromous fishes (striped bass, white perch, shads, river herrings).