Relationship of marine birds to oceanic fronts off the northeastern United States. Technical progress report, April-November 1981

The role of fronts as determinants of pelagic distributions of zooplankton-feeding marine birds off the northeastern United States was investigated. Our analyses suggest that the shelf/slope and Cape Cod fronts are not convergent features, which accumulate biological or probably inorganic materials...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Powers, K. D., Backus, E. H.
Language:unknown
Published: 2013
Subjects:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
FOOD CHAINS
BIRDS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
COASTAL WATERS
CONTINENTAL SHELF
CONTINENTAL SLOPE
NORTH ATLANTIC REGION
NUTRIENTS
PRODUCTIVITY
WATER CURRENTS
ANIMALS
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CURRENTS
DISTRIBUTION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
North Atlantic
Online Access:http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5217161
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5217161
https://doi.org/10.2172/5217161
Description
Summary:The role of fronts as determinants of pelagic distributions of zooplankton-feeding marine birds off the northeastern United States was investigated. Our analyses suggest that the shelf/slope and Cape Cod fronts are not convergent features, which accumulate biological or probably inorganic materials at the surface. Instead, our data support previous oceanographic studies, which implicate enhanced vertical mixing in the shelf-break region and along northern Georges Bank. This conclusion supports our original hypothesis that frontal regions are major determinants of the pelagic distributions of some species of marine birds (zooplankton-feeders), because these areas are apparently enriched with greater amounts of nutrients that cause enhanced phytoplankton and zooplankton production. Hence, birds select these areas with greater densities of preferred prey because foraging is more efficient.

Similar Items