Abstract
The Optical Plankton Counter (OPC) was used to count individual animals in situ, and to produce a one-dimensional spatial-series from which gap relationships could be quantified at the millimeter scale and above, using a Distance to Next Encounter (DNE) technique. Both DNE and one-dimensional neighbor analyses indicated that zooplankton distributions in all transects were significantly (p <0.0001) aggregated into patches. Within patches, zooplankton were effectively (r2 = 0.94) randomly distributed, resulting in important implications for some of the newer foraging models concerning zooplankton. The DNE frequency distributions all exhibited a distinct pattern that would not be expected from single Poisson distribution, indicating patchiness at the meter scale. This allowed calculation of various statistics used to describe in situ patchiness such as: relative percentage of a transect occupied by patches (79 to 89%) and gaps, estimates of patch size (~2 m diameter), and patch densities (7000 to 14 000 organisms m-3).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 15-21 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Marine Ecology Progress Series |
| Volume | 171 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 1 1998 |
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Keywords
- Gaps
- Patchiness
- Plankton Zooplankton
- Transect
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
- Ecology
Cite this
Gaps and patches in the ocean : A one-dimensional analysis of planktonic distributions. / Currie, Warren J S; Claereboudt, Michel R.; Roff, John C.
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol. 171, 01.10.1998, p. 15-21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Gaps and patches in the ocean
T2 - A one-dimensional analysis of planktonic distributions
AU - Currie, Warren J S
AU - Claereboudt, Michel R.
AU - Roff, John C.
PY - 1998/10/1
Y1 - 1998/10/1
N2 - The Optical Plankton Counter (OPC) was used to count individual animals in situ, and to produce a one-dimensional spatial-series from which gap relationships could be quantified at the millimeter scale and above, using a Distance to Next Encounter (DNE) technique. Both DNE and one-dimensional neighbor analyses indicated that zooplankton distributions in all transects were significantly (p <0.0001) aggregated into patches. Within patches, zooplankton were effectively (r2 = 0.94) randomly distributed, resulting in important implications for some of the newer foraging models concerning zooplankton. The DNE frequency distributions all exhibited a distinct pattern that would not be expected from single Poisson distribution, indicating patchiness at the meter scale. This allowed calculation of various statistics used to describe in situ patchiness such as: relative percentage of a transect occupied by patches (79 to 89%) and gaps, estimates of patch size (~2 m diameter), and patch densities (7000 to 14 000 organisms m-3).
AB - The Optical Plankton Counter (OPC) was used to count individual animals in situ, and to produce a one-dimensional spatial-series from which gap relationships could be quantified at the millimeter scale and above, using a Distance to Next Encounter (DNE) technique. Both DNE and one-dimensional neighbor analyses indicated that zooplankton distributions in all transects were significantly (p <0.0001) aggregated into patches. Within patches, zooplankton were effectively (r2 = 0.94) randomly distributed, resulting in important implications for some of the newer foraging models concerning zooplankton. The DNE frequency distributions all exhibited a distinct pattern that would not be expected from single Poisson distribution, indicating patchiness at the meter scale. This allowed calculation of various statistics used to describe in situ patchiness such as: relative percentage of a transect occupied by patches (79 to 89%) and gaps, estimates of patch size (~2 m diameter), and patch densities (7000 to 14 000 organisms m-3).
KW - Gaps
KW - Patchiness
KW - Plankton Zooplankton
KW - Transect
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032191256&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 171
SP - 15
EP - 21
JO - Marine Ecology - Progress Series
JF - Marine Ecology - Progress Series
SN - 0171-8630
ER -