SGER: Preliminary Studies of Larval Transport using Small Moorings in Coastal Waters

该SGER奖旨在确定在俄勒冈州中部近岸（仅在冲浪区之外）锚定的小型系泊设备的有效性，以确定与岸上招募模式和社区结构相关的幼虫丰度和运输模式。这是至关重要的，以获得证据，系泊将工作，并将提供信息，可以承担关键的近岸幼虫运输的问题。Menge博士同意海洋科学界的意见（如全球海洋生态系统方案和合作方案的使命声明所述），认为通过近岸区域（迄今为止是一个“黑匣子”）确定海洋水层和海底环境之间的联系是生物海洋学家和海洋生态学家面临的最重要问题之一。由于浮游动物的斑块性，确定浮游动物的丰度长期以来一直受到极端空间和时间变化的阻碍。使用长期综合的幼虫诱捕器将提供幼虫估计数，更准确地反映向底栖生物群落投放幼虫的模式。这项研究将采用廉价的系泊设备，锚定在12 在离岸0.5至1公里之间15米的水域，将同时对幼虫丰度、海流、水温、岸上沉降和岸上温度进行采样。系泊设备的测量将在水面和水底附近进行，以量化可能的幼虫分层和水柱中的物理条件，这可能与上涌和松弛期间的陆上/海上运输模式有关。为了与更传统的海洋学测量进行比较，每次监测系泊时，将使用标准方法（尼斯金瓶、CTD、浮游生物网）对叶绿素a、物理条件和浮游动物丰度进行采样。卫星图像将用于检查我们的小规模采样将发生的大规模背景。 这项工作将测试，如果这些系泊将被证明是一个强大的和廉价的工具，在研究近岸生态和海洋学过程，特别是在有关的幼虫运输。

This SGER award aims to determine the efficacy of small moorings anchored in the nearshore (just beyond the surf zone) of central Oregon for determining patterns of larval abundance and transport in relation to onshore patterns of recruitment and community structure. It is essential to obtain proof that moorings will work, and will provide information that can bear critically on the issue of nearshore larval transport. In agreement with the community of ocean scientists (as reflected in GLOBEC and CoOP mission statements) Dr. Menge contends that the determination of the link between pelagic and benthic environments through the nearshore region, heretofore a `black box,` is one of the most important problems facing biological oceanographers and marine ecologists. Determining abundances of zooplankton has long been hampered by extreme spatial and temporal variation due to plankton patchiness. The use of larval traps, which integrate over long times will provide larval estimates which more accurately reflect patterns of larval delivery to benthic communities. This study will employ inexpensive moorings, anchored in 12 15 m of water between 0.5 and 1 km offshore, and will simultaneously sample larval abundances, currents, water temperature, settlement onshore, and temperature onshore. The measurements on the moorings will be taken near the surface and near the bottom to quantify possible stratification of larvae and physical conditions in the water column, which may relate to patterns of onshore/offshore transport during upwelling and relaxation. For comparison with more traditional oceanographic measurements, chlorophyll a, physical conditions, and zooplankton abundance will be sampled using standard methods (Niskin bottles, CTD, plankton nets) each time the moorings are monitored. Satellite imagery will be used to examine the larger scale context in which our smaller scale sampling will take place. This work will test if these moorings will prove to be a powerful and inexpensive tool in studying nearshore ecological and oceanographic processes, particularly in relation to larval transport.