Week 4 - Spatial Distribution Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are the scales of zooplankton distribution?
- Large-scale patterns
- Regional-scale patterns
- Local-scale patterns
- Micro-scale distribution
These scales reflect different biological and physicochemical factors influencing distribution.
What large-scale patterns influence zooplankton distribution?
- Latitudinal gradients
- Ocean basins
- Global biogeochemical provinces
These patterns are essential for understanding the broad distribution of zooplankton.
What factors influence regional-scale zooplankton distribution?
- Currents
- Water masses
- Productivity zones
These factors help determine regional variations in zooplankton populations.
What are the local-scale patterns of zooplankton distribution?
Patchiness within water columns due to biotic interactions and environmental variability
Local-scale patterns can vary significantly within small areas.
What physicochemical properties shape zooplankton spatial patterns?
- Temperature
- Salinity
- Light
- Nutrients
- Currents
- Depth
Each of these properties affects zooplankton in various ways.
How does temperature influence zooplankton distribution?
Affects metabolic rates and geographic distribution due to poikilothermic nature
Zooplankton rely on external temperature for physiological processes.
What role does salinity play in zooplankton distribution?
- Some species are osmoconformers
- Others regulate internal salinity levels
Salinity can determine the survival and distribution of various zooplankton species.
What is the significance of light and nutrients for zooplankton?
Primary production is controlled by light availability, influencing phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance
This relationship is crucial for the entire marine food web.
How do currents affect zooplankton populations?
Transport zooplankton over large distances, leading to dispersal and mixing
Currents can significantly alter local zooplankton communities.
What is the relationship between depth and zooplankton distribution?
Determines oxygen availability and influences vertical migration behaviors
Depth plays a critical role in the habitat and behavior of zooplankton.
Define Marine Biogeochemical Provinces (BGCPs).
Regions with similar physicochemical and biological characteristics
BGCPs help classify different oceanic environments based on their properties.
What does the global classification system of ocean regions include?
- Biomes
- Provinces
- Environmental parameters (e.g., sea surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration)
This system allows for a systematic understanding of marine ecosystems.
What latitudinal distribution trends are observed in zooplankton?
- Higher species diversity in tropics
- Larger body sizes in colder waters
- Greater population biomass in high latitudes
- Increased proportion of carnivorous copepods in warmer regions
- Copepods smaller in equatorial regions - less phyto and higher metabolic rate means less energy for growth
These trends highlight the ecological patterns in marine environments.
How does climate change impact zooplankton distribution?
Shifts species distributions poleward and affects biodiversity gradients due to changing temperature regimes
Climate change poses a significant threat to marine biodiversity.
What influences zooplankton assemblages in the Gulf Stream?
Interaction with colder waters from the Labrador Current
This interaction can lead to changes in species composition and biomass distribution.
What is the effect of equatorial upwelling zones on zooplankton?
Enhance productivity and support high zooplankton densities
Upwelling zones are critical for nutrient replenishment in marine ecosystems.
What are the five types of patchiness in zooplankton distribution?
- Vectorial Patchiness
- Stochastic Patchiness
- Social Patchiness
- Co-active Patchiness
- Reproductive and Ontogenetic Patchiness
Each type describes different mechanisms influencing zooplankton spatial distribution.
What characterizes vectorial patchiness?
Regular, directional movement influenced by gradients in temperature, salinity, or oxygen
This type of patchiness reflects systematic distribution patterns.
What is stochastic patchiness?
Random variations due to turbulence, tides, and physical mixing
Stochastic factors introduce unpredictability in zooplankton distribution.
Describe social patchiness in zooplankton.
Aggregations driven by swarming, predator avoidance, and schooling behaviors
Social behaviors can greatly influence the local distribution of zooplankton.
What is co-active patchiness?
Trophic interactions shaping distribution, such as predator-prey relationships
These interactions are essential for understanding ecological dynamics.
What is reproductive patchiness?
Spatial clustering based on life history stages, spawning, and larval settlement
Reproductive behaviors can lead to localized concentrations of zooplankton.
What multi-factor causes influence zooplankton spatial distributions?
- Biological processes (feeding, reproduction, migration)
- Environmental drivers (temperature, oxygen levels, nutrient dynamics)
- Physical oceanography (currents, turbulence, upwelling zones)
- Predator-prey interactions
These factors interact to create complex distribution patterns.
How do deep chlorophyll maximum zones relate to zooplankton aggregations?
They coincide with zooplankton aggregations because the DCM provides abundant food, multiple species of zooplankton can coexist without competing as intensely — there’s enough food for everyone.
This spatial distribution allows different species to exploit resources effectively.
