Oceanographic Background

# SECTION VIII-OCEANOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND

        Seasonal Changes in Physical Processes in Regions I-IV
           Region I
           Region II
           Region III
           Region IV
        Biological Provinces
           Phytoplankton  Provinces
           Zooplankton Provinces
           Invertebrate Benthos Provinces
           Marine Fish Provinces
           Bird Provinces
           El Nino Effects on Zoogeographic Boundaries
        Biophysical Interactions
           Overview of Biophysical Interactions
           Biophysical Interactions Involving Phytoplankton
           Biophysical Interactions Involving Zooplankton
           Biophysical Interactions Involving Benthic Invertebrates
           Biophysical Interactions Involving Marine Fish and Shellfish
           Biophysical Interactions Involving Bird Populations
           Summary of Biophysical Interactions-Hypothesis Formulation
        Historical Variability in the CCS
           The Last 100 Years
           The Last 1500 Years
        Global Eastern Boundary Currents

This section provides a detailed exposition of physical and biological aspects of the California Current ecosystem, building on information provided in Section III. Topics treated include seasonal variations in physical processes, zoogeographic boundaries, biophysical interactions, long-term variability as gleaned from paleoceanographic records, and a brief comparison of processes and species interactions in other eastern boundary current systems.