Collaborative Research: Does coupling between the inner shelf and surf zone regulate larval supply to intertidal populations?

许多潮间带无脊椎动物和鱼类具有复杂的生命周期，其中包括浮游幼虫期。在它们的远洋发育结束时，幼虫必须返回海岸并穿过冲浪区。本研究的目的是首次探讨潮间带水动力学在潮间带藤壶向海岸的输送速率中的作用。为了对沙滩冲浪带的流体动力学有更深入的物理海洋学理解，这项初步研究将集中在与沙滩相关的冲浪带的硬基质上的塞浦路斯人沉降。在研究的头两年，研究人员将分别对反射和耗散冲浪区进行为期两个月的密集物理和生物研究。在每个地点，他们将对内大陆架水域的塞浦路斯人进行取样，就在冲浪区外，以及在冲浪区内，他们将测量潮间带板块的沉降。与此同时，他们将用现场仪器和一队配备gps的海面漂流船收集海洋物理数据，以描述冲浪区的流体动力学。物理和生物数据的时间序列将相互关联，以研究塞浦路斯向海岸输送的机制。为了模拟幼虫运输的水动力过程，研究人员将使用3D模型，解决不稳定近岸水流的水平和垂直结构。为了评估幼虫通过冲浪带的潜在运输，将描述幼虫空间分布的生物学模块与水动力模块相结合，以预测幼虫的路径并与观测结果进行比较。密集的采样将有助于深入了解塞浦路斯从内部大陆架，通过冲浪带和潮间带运输的实际过程。每年夏天，在加利福尼亚中部和俄勒冈州南部的反射和耗散海滩上，每周的藤壶招募和每天的塞浦路斯沉降量将被测量两个月。每年将对西海岸许多海滩的种群密度进行调查，以确定波浪能量的纬度梯度是否与成年藤壶种群密度相关。由于表层动力学的基本原理是普遍的，因此本研究的结果将不仅在西海岸广泛适用，而且在世界范围内广泛适用。该项目将对教育和公众宣传产生重大影响。它将支持3名研究生和9名本科生，并将为来自3所本科院校、当地高中和公众的不同背景的学生创造新的研究机会。该研究将包括在强化实践课程的课程中，本科生将参与研究，同时学习现实世界的研究项目如何解决基本问题。将建立一个突出研究结果的网站，并为Bodega海洋实验室的参观者提供互动展示。一个耦合近岸流体动力学和跨冲浪区的陆上运输的模型将提供给社区，以刺激对这一新兴研究课题的研究。

Many intertidal invertebrates and fishes have complex life cycles that include a planktonic larval phase. At the end of their pelagic development, larvae must return to shore and cross the surf zone. The purpose of this study is to investigate for the first time the role of surf zone hydrodynamics in the rate of delivery of cyprids of intertidal barnacles to the shore. To exploit the greater physical oceanographic understanding of the hydrodynamics of sandy beach surf zones, this initial study will focus on cyprid settlement on hard substrates in surf zones associated with sandy beaches. In the first two years of the study, the investigators will carry out an intensive two-month physical and biological study of a reflective and dissipative surf zone, respectively. At each site they will sample cyprids in the waters of the inner-shelf, just outside the surf zone, and within the surf zone and they will measure settlement on plates in the intertidal zone. At the same time they will collect physical oceanographic data with both in-situ instruments and a fleet of GPS-equipped surface drifters to describe the hydrodynamics of the surf zone. The time series of the physical and biological data will be correlated to investigate mechanisms of delivery of cyprids to the shore. To simulate the hydrodynamic processes responsible for the transport of larvae, the investigators will use a 3D model, resolving both the horizontal and vertical structure of the unsteady nearshore flow. To evaluate potential transport of larvae through the surf zone, a biological module describing the spatial distribution of the larvae will be coupled to the hydrodynamic module to predict the pathways of the larvae and compare with observations. Intensive sampling will help provide insight into the actual processes transporting cyprids from the inner shelf, through the surf zone, and to the intertidal zone. During each summer, weekly barnacle recruitment and daily cyprid settlement will be measured for two months to settlement plates at reflective and dissipative beaches in central California and southern Oregon. Population densities at many beaches along the West Coast will be surveyed each year to determine if a latitudinal gradient in wave energy is correlated with adult barnacle population densities.Because the fundamentals of surfzone dynamics are universal, results of this research will be broadly applicable not only along the West Coast, but worldwide. This project will have significant impacts on education and public outreach. It will support three graduate students and nine undergraduate students and will create new research opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds from three undergraduate institutions, local high schools and the public. The research will be included in the curriculum of intensive hands-on courses, and undergraduates will participate in the research while learning how a real-world research project addresses fundamental questions. Both a website that highlights findings and an interactive display for visitors to the Bodega Marine Laboratory will be developed. A model coupling nearshore hydrodynamics and onshore transport across the surf zone will be made available to the community to stimulate research into this emerging research topic.