Genin, Amatzia, Jaffe, Jules S., Reef, Ruth, Richter, Claudio and Franks, Peter J. S. (2005) Swimming Against the Flow: A Mechanism of Zooplankton Aggregation. Science, 308 (5723). pp. 860-862. DOI https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1107834.

Text Richter.PDF - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB)

Abstract

Zooplankton reside in a constantly flowing environment. However, information about their response to ambient flow has remained elusive, because of the difficulties of following the individual motions of these minute, nearly transparent animals in the ocean. Using a three-dimensional acoustic imaging system, we tracked >375,000 zooplankters at two coastal sites in the Red Sea. Resolution of their motion from that of the water showed that the animals effectively maintained their depth by swimming against upwelling and downwelling currents moving at rates of up to tens of body lengths per second, causing their accumulation at frontal zones. This mechanism explains how oceanic fronts become major feeding grounds for predators and targets for fishermen.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA Not Applicable
Research affiliation:	ZMT All
Refereed:	Yes
Document Access:	Closed access
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1107834
ISSN:	0036-8075
Date Deposited:	16 Mar 2020 10:32
Last Modified:	06 Oct 2026 16:55
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/3628

Actions (login required)

View Item