Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS37 Zooplankton

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001, Time: 12:15:00 PM

Location: Aztec

Scott, R, L, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, becca@ocean.tamu.edu

Biggs, D, C, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, dbiggs@ocean.tamu.edu

DiMarco, S, F, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, sdimarco@tamu.edu

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF PLANKTON STOCKS FROM ACOUSTIC BACKSCATTER INTENSITY AND DIRECT MEASUREMENTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO

As part of the DeSoto Canyon Eddy Intrusion Study twelve Broadband acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) were moored along the slopes of the DeSoto Canyon in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. These upward-looking ADCPs were moored at approximately 90-m depth and deployed March 1997 through April 1999. Research has shown a positive relationship between backscattering strength of acoustic pulses emitted by ADCPs and the amount and size of plankton in the water column, and a two-year time series of plankton stocks is inferred from the acoustic backscatter intensity at each mooring. We will report the spatial and temporal variability of backscattering strength of acoustic pulses emitted by these ADCPs. To obtain sea truth for backscatter data, net tows were made during spring, summer, and fall of 1998 as well as spring 1999. Previous work shows highest diversity and numbers in spring. Because net tows consisted mainly of meroplanktonic organisms, we will detail how ADCP acoustic backscatter can predict the success of on-shore/off-shore and along-margin larval recruitment. Funding is provided by the U.S. Minerals Management Service, NEGOM contract 1435-01-97-CT-30851, Task 7.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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