NSF Award Abstract - #9529100

U.S. GLOBEC: Biological and Physical Evidence of Source Regions and Transport Patterns of Zooplankton on Georges Bank

NSF Org OCE
Latest Amendment Date September 8, 1995
Award Number 9529100
Award Instr. Standard Grant
Prgm Manager Phillip R. Taylor
OCE DIVISION OF OCEAN SCIENCES
GEO DIRECTORATE FOR GEOSCIENCES
Start Date September 15, 1995
Expires August 31, 1997 (Estimated)
Investigator Ann C Bucklin acb@kepler.unh.edu
Wendell S Brown
Sponsor U of New Hampshire
Service Bldg., Room 111
51 College Road
Durham, NH 03824 603/862-1234
NSF Program 1650 BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Fld Applictn 0204000 Oceanography

Abstract

To address questions of zooplankton dispersal in the ocean, especially identification of sources of Calanus finmarchicus for recruitment to Georges Bank, we are using an integrated analysis of the population genetic character of the copepod and the hydrographic parameters of water mass and transport patterns in the western N. Atlantic. Our goal is to document, using biological and physical evidence, the sources and transport patterns that influence the annual increase of copepods on Georges Bank. For the population genetics effort, we are determining levels of genetic variation, evidence for sub-division into genetically distinct populations, and quantitative estimates of gene flow and dispersal across the sampling domain. For the hydrographic effort, we are using historical observations to provide a climatological perspective of water mass structure and variability. The primary archives are the Atlantic Fisheries Adjustment Program (AFAP) hydrographic database. We will also have access to the new NMFS data (not in NODC) for comparison with the climatological analyses we are producing.