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Synchronicity between zooplankton biomass and larval fish concentrations along a highly flushed Tasmanian estuary: assessment using net and acoustic methods

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posted on 2023-05-16, 22:41 authored by Ana Lara-LopezAna Lara-Lopez, Neira, FJ
We examined the spatio-temporal synchronicity between zooplankton biomass and larval fish concentrations within a highly flushed system in northern Tasmania, Australia, combining the data from nets and acoustic methods obtained between October 2001 and November 2002. Zooplankton and larval fish data from nets were analysed in terms of water temperature, salinity and freshwater flow, while backscatter strength from an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) was employed to complement zooplankton-net data and identify the likely areas of high secondary productivity. Zooplankton and fishes varied significantly across months, peaking simultaneously during late spring (November) at an average temperature of ∼15°C. Maximum zooplankton (20.5 mgC/m3) and fishes (874 larvae/100 m3) were recorded within mesohaline (5-17) and polyhaline (18-29) zones, respectively, also in spring. Peaks in zooplankton and larval fish occurred a month after peak freshwater flow, with temperature explaining variability better than did flow or salinity. The coupling of spring peaks in zooplankton biomass and larval fish implies that estuary-spawning fishes may have a fixed spawning period timed to increasing temperatures to ensure a match with abundant microplankton food supply. Backscatter strength complemented zooplankton biomass from nets, and could arguably be used as a proxy for zooplankton abundance even within "noisy" estuarine systems. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

History

Publication title

Journal Of Plankton Research

Volume

30

Issue

9

Pagination

1061-1073

ISSN

0142-7873

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Environmental lifecycle assessment

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