Fronts may concentrate larvae in the nearshore ocean

Marley A. Jarvis and Alan L. Shanks Oregon Institute of Marine Biology

Larval hotspots
Many marine organisms have a biphasic life cycle that alternates between planktonic larvae and benthic adults. Hydrodynamic features in the ocean that concentrate these dispersed larvae may be important in controlling larval supply to shoreward settlement sites. One feature of the nearshore that may concentrate larvae is a front.

Front at Sunset Bay

Does the front at Sunset Bay concentrate larvae? Sampling the front

What is a front?
A front separates two different water masses that may vary in temperature, salinity, or some other variable. Flow in a front is often towards the front on at least one side, resulting in a surface convergence where positively buoyant detritus, such as foam, accumulates..

blach blah this is a convergence how bloody interesting! Flow is toward front at surface creating a convergence.

In August 2011 I took plankton tows and CTD casts shoreward, seaward, and in the foamline of the front at Sunset Bay. Net was mounted with oats so as to sample the neuston. Data shown are preliminary as only one replicate from each tow has been counted.

Front indicated by temperature

The front was stable between days 1 and 2, partially blocking off the bay. When the front is present, water

Larvae concentrated in stable front Day 1

900 750 600 450 300 150 0 10 8 6 4 2 0 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 H J Inshore H J B H J B Foamline Offshore B Q J pelagosphera H cyphaunautes
Cancer Mega

Conclusions

Day 2
6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 100 80 60 40 20 0 750 600 450 300 150 0 Q Inshore H J B Inshore H H J B Foamline Offshore
Cancer B Q Mega J pelagosphera H cyphaunautes

No of larvae per

Water inshore of front heats Water Temp (oC)

Depth (m)

Foamlines associated with fronts can concentrate larvae of many different types of marine animals

3 m

Inshore

Foamline Offshore
Cyprids Gastrodpod V

Inshore

Foamline Offshore
Cyprids B Gastrodpod V J

It appears that larvae may only be strongly concentrated in the foamline with the front is stable

"Hotspots" that concentrate larvae may be

important in supplying the next generation of young to the nearshore ocean.

Shore

Offshore (m)

Inshore Q Foamline Offshore Q

Bivalve V Polychaete larvae

Q Foamline Offshore Q
Bivalve V Polychaete larvae

Cross section at Sunset Bay showing

References

Foamlines associated with fronts can concentrate larvae of many different types of marine animals

Acknoledgements
Foamlines associated with fronts can concentrate larvae of many different types of marine animals

For further information

Foamlines associated with fronts can concentrate larvae of many different types of marine animals

It appears that larvae may only be strongly concentrated in the foamline with the front is stable