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有复杂的生命周期，包括浮游幼虫阶段。在其远洋发展结束时，幼虫必须返回海岸并穿越碎浪带。本研究的目的是首次调查碎波带流体动力学的作用，在交付率的Cyprids的潮间带藤壶到海岸。利用更大的物理海洋学的理解的流体动力学的海滩冲浪区，这个初步的研究将集中在塞浦路斯定居在硬底质冲浪区与桑迪。在研究的前两年，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，他们将在内大陆架的沃茨、碎波带外和碎波带内对塞浦路斯进行采样，并测量潮间带板块上的沉降量。与此同时，他们将收集物理海洋学数据与两个现场仪器和一队全球定位系统装备的表面漂移，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被关联，以研究塞浦路斯交付到海岸的机制。为了模拟负责幼虫运输的水动力过程，研究人员将使用3D模型，解决不稳定近岸流的水平和垂直结构。为了评估通过碎波带的幼虫的潜在运输，描述幼虫的空间分布的生物模块将被耦合到流体动力学模块，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从内大陆架，通过冲浪区，并到潮间带的实际过程中运送塞浦路斯。在每年夏天，每周藤壶招聘和每日塞浦路斯定居将测量两个月的定居板在反射和耗散海滩在加州中部和南部俄勒冈州。人口密度在许多海滩沿着西海岸将每年进行调查，以确定是否在波能的纬度梯度与成人藤壶人口density.because的基本面surfzone动力学是普遍的，这项研究的结果将广泛适用于不仅沿着西海岸，但在世界范围内。该项目将对教育和公共宣传产生重大影响。它将支持三名研究生和九名本科生，并将为来自三所本科院校、当地高中和公众的不同背景的学生创造新的研究机会。该研究将被纳入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。将建立一个网站，重点介绍调查结果，并为博德加海洋实验室的访问者提供互动展示。将向社区提供一个耦合近岸水动力学和近岸运输的模型，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.