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Krill Hotspot Formation and Phenology in the California Current Ecosystem
Jerome Fiechter1, Jarrod A Santora2,3, Francisco Chavez4
1Ocean Sciences Department University of California Santa Cruz CA USA.
Geophysical Research Letters
|July 31, 2020
Summary
Krill hotspots in the California Current Ecosystem are influenced by coastal upwelling, affecting their timing and location. Model simulations reveal complex dynamics tied to wind, primary production, and currents, impacting predator abundance.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Oceanography
- Ecosystem Modeling
Background:
- Krill are vital to the California Current Ecosystem, linking primary production to higher trophic levels.
- Coastal upwelling dynamics may disrupt the synchrony between krill aggregations and their food sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mechanisms controlling krill hotspot phenology in the California Current.
- To assess the impact of coastal upwelling intensity on krill hotspot dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a coupled physical-biological model simulation.
- Analyzed sensitivity to alongshore variations in coastal upwelling.
Main Results:
- Krill hotspot formation, intensity, and persistence exhibit significant alongshore heterogeneity.
- Dynamics are strongly linked to variations in upwelling winds, primary production, and ocean currents.
- Persistent krill hotspots correlate with higher top predator abundance.
Conclusions:
- Model simulations provide insights into krill hotspot phenology and ecosystem function.
- Coastal upwelling intensity is a critical factor modulating krill distribution and predator-prey interactions.
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