Evaluation of Larval Transport Models using a Programmable, Vertically Migrating 'Zooplankton Mimic'

我们对海洋中的种群如何受到 它们在部分或全部期间所受的海洋环流， 目前它们的生命周期都被限制在 尺度环流和地理分布。 中尺度和 小规模的相互作用，其中单个生物体是 最重要的是，很难研究。 垂直 在这项研究中开发的迁移拉格朗日漂移器将 模拟十足类的小尺度垂直游动行为 田间的幼虫 根据实验室对漂移器进行编程 和幼虫行为的实地观察将被释放， 螃蟹产卵来确定垂直迁移是否能解释 将幼虫滞留在河口， 成年人的栖息地 一个较大的漂流者，携带一颗ARGOS卫星 发射器，将跟踪行为对螃蟹运输的影响 本文报道了一种从河口（Callinectes sapidus in 切萨皮克湾）。 一些海洋学模型预测C. sapidus将被席卷出中大西洋湾，但密集的 人口仍然在50公里的切萨皮克湾口，k 很明显是以巨海象和幼海象的形式重新进入海湾。 具有替代幼虫行为的漂流者将有助于 这是否是由风驱动的平流近， 表层幼虫，大眼幼体在底层的被动运输 水流，或由于垂直迁移而增强的输送，形成洪水 潮汐流 %%% 对人类有相当价值的贝类资源之一是 产于切萨皮克湾和大西洋其他河口的蓝蟹 美国东南部 研究的分布 幼虫显示，它们在部分时间离开切萨皮克湾， 它们的生命周期，但当它们靠近时， 成年 目前尚不清楚它们在水中的位置 它们在水柱中上下移动的能力 海湾和中大西洋湾的洋流联合收割机 来维持海湾的人口 一种小型漂流物， 模仿幼虫的行为正在发展。 漂流者将携带 一个卫星发射器，这样它的位置就可以被跟踪， 是由水流携带的，它在水流中上下运动， 可指定水柱。 漂流者将被部署在 成年蓝蟹产卵的地方 漂流者将允许各种 游泳行为进行测试，以确定哪些组合（S） 最真实地模仿已知的幼虫 分布，并导致维持蟹类种群， 切萨皮克湾

Our understanding of how populations in the sea are affected by the ocean circulation to which they are subject during part or all of their life cycle is restricted at the moment to large scale circulation and biogeographic distributions. Mesoscale and small scale interactions, where the individual organism is of primary importance, are difficult to study. The vertically migrating Lagrangian drifter to be developed in this study will emulate the small-scale vertical swimming behavior of decapod larvae in the field. Drifters programmed according to laboratory and field observations of larval behavior will be released where crabs are spawning to determine if vertical migration can account for retention of larvae in estuaries and ultimate arrival at adult habitats. A larger drifter, carrying an ARGOS satellite transmitter, will track effects of behavior on transport of crab larvae exported from an esutary (Callinectes sapidus in Chesapeake Bay). Some oceanographic models predict that C. sapidus will be swept out of the mid-Atlantic Bight, but dense populations remain within 50km of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay,k apparently re-entering the Bay as megaloae and juveniles. Drifters programmed with alternative larval behaviors will help resolve whether this is caused by wind-driven advection of near- surface larvae, passive transport of megalopae in bottom currents, or transport enhanced by vertical migration into flood tidal currents. %%% One of the shellfish resources of considerable value to man is the blue crab of Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries of the southeastern United States. Studies of the distribution of the larvae have shown that they exit Chesapeake Bay during part of their life cycle, but then re-enter the Bay when they near adulthood. It is not clear how their position in the water column, their ability to move up and down in the water column, and the local currents in the Bay and mid-Atlantic Bight combine to maintain the populations in the Bay. A small drifter that can mimic larval behavior is being developed. The drifter will carry a satellite transmitter so that its position can be tracked as it is carried by the currents, and its movement up and down in the water column can be specified. The drifter will be deployed where the adult blue crabs spawn. The drifter will allow various swimming behaviors to be tested to determine which combination(s) of behavior and currents most realistically copy known larval distributions and result in maintenance of the crab population in the Chesapeake Bay.