Importance of Thin Plankton Layers in Hawaiian Food Web Interactions: Research Spanning from Physical Circulation to Spinner Dolphins

Abstract

Award Number: N000140811212 LONG-TERM GOALSOur long-term goal is to develop the capability to predict the occurrence and consequences of layer structure and biological aggregations in coastal waters. OBJECTIVESOur goals are (1) to quantify layered aggregations of the phytoplankton, zooplankton, and the nearshore sound-scattering layer around Hawaii, (2) to identify the physical, optical, and acoustical characteristics associated with these aggregations, (3) to assess the horizontal scales of coherence between these various levels of biological aggregations and understand their interactions, (4) to assess the impact of these layers on optical and acoustical measurements in the nearshore environment, (5) to determine the effects of thin layers on spinner dolphins. APPROACHThis project takes an interdisciplinary approach to look at the relationships between the distribution of phytoplankton, zooplankton, mesopelagic micronekton, and spinner dolphins along with acoustical and optical scattering from these organisms and the topography and physical circulation patterns of the study region. We combine moored and expeditionary approaches to determine the predictors of organismal distribution and the relationship between various groups. The system presents a unique opportunity to look at how the organisms in Hawaii's nearshore waters aggregate and disassemble as 1