THE VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF COPEPODS IN BEDFORD BASIN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PHYSICAL VARIABLES WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SMALL-SCALE TURBULENCE

Abstract

In the autumn of 2010 a novel free-falling profiler was deployed in attempt to measure, quantify and understand the vertical distribution of copepods in Bedford Basin, with particular emphasis on the effects of small-scale turbulence. Coincident measurements of high-resolution copepod abundance, depth, temperature, salinity, density, buoyancy frequency and turbulent dissipation rates were collected. Data for light, tide and winds were also available on a larger space and time scale. The results suggest that the distribution of copepods in Bedford Basin is not affected by turbulence and is mainly controlled by temperature, salinity and density, while the large scale copepod abundance is controlled by light and tides.