Regularly spaced rows of medusae in the Bering Sea: Role of Langmuir circulation1

• Published in: Limnology and Oceanography
• Main Authors: Hamner, William M., Schneider, David
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1986
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Oceanography; Bering Sea; Langmuir
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4319/lo.1986.31.1.0171; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.4319%2Flo.1986.31.1.0171; https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.4319/lo.1986.31.1.0171

In summer at night in the Bering Sea hydromedusae and scyphomedusae formed dense aggregations at the surface in convergences apparently produced by Langmuir circulation cells. During strong winds distance between parallel rows regularly exceeded 100 m; densities of medusae within rows reached 1,000 m −3 . Physical and behavioral factors can increase spatial aggregation and thereby alter the rate of encounter of medusae with prey, predators, and competitors. The importance of Langmuir circulation in rough seas has been underestimated.