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Broad impacts of fine-scale dynamics on seascape structure from zooplankton to seabirds

Author

Listed:
  • Arnaud Bertrand

    (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR212 EME IFREMER/IRD/UM2)

  • Daniel Grados

    (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR212 EME IFREMER/IRD/UM2
    Instituto del Mar del Perú, Esquina Gamarra y Gral, Valle s/n)

  • François Colas

    (IRD-CNRS-Sorbonne Universités (UPMC Univ. Paris 6)-MNHN, LOCEAN/IPSL Laboratory)

  • Sophie Bertrand

    (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR212 EME IFREMER/IRD/UM2)

  • Xavier Capet

    (IRD-CNRS-Sorbonne Universités (UPMC Univ. Paris 6)-MNHN, LOCEAN/IPSL Laboratory)

  • Alexis Chaigneau

    (IRD, UMR LEGOS, CNES/CNRS/IRD/UPS)

  • Gary Vargas

    (Instituto del Mar del Perú, Esquina Gamarra y Gral, Valle s/n)

  • Alexandre Mousseigne

    (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR212 EME IFREMER/IRD/UM2)

  • Ronan Fablet

    (TELECOM Bretagne, UMR CNRS-3192-Lab-STICC)

Abstract

In marine ecosystems, like most natural systems, patchiness is the rule. A characteristic of pelagic ecosystems is that their ‘substrate’ consists of constantly moving water masses, where ocean surface turbulence creates ephemeral oases. Identifying where and when hotspots occur and how predators manage those vagaries in their preyscape is challenging because wide-ranging observations are lacking. Here we use a unique data set, gathering high-resolution and wide-range acoustic and GPS-tracking data. We show that the upper ocean dynamics at scales less than 10 km play the foremost role in shaping the seascape from zooplankton to seabirds. Short internal waves (100 m–1 km) play a major role, while submesoscale (~1–20 km) and mesoscale (~20–100 km) turbulence have a comparatively modest effect. Predicted changes in surface stratification due to global change are expected to have an impact on the number and intensity of physical structures and thus biological interactions from plankton to top predators.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnaud Bertrand & Daniel Grados & François Colas & Sophie Bertrand & Xavier Capet & Alexis Chaigneau & Gary Vargas & Alexandre Mousseigne & Ronan Fablet, 2014. "Broad impacts of fine-scale dynamics on seascape structure from zooplankton to seabirds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6239
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6239
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    Cited by:

    1. Aurore Receveur & Christophe Menkes & Matthieu Lengaigne & Alejandro Ariza & Arnaud Bertrand & Cyril Dutheil & Sophie Cravatte & Valérie Allain & Laure Barbin & Anne Lebourges-Dhaussy & Patrick Lehode, 2024. "A rare oasis effect for forage fauna in oceanic eddies at the global scale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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