Lecture 6 -- Puget Sound Pelagic Environment

Question 1

1. Why is there very high plankton production on the coast of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia?

Answer 1

because of the natural upwelling of the coast. brings lots of nutrients!

Question 2

2. What are the two major causes of the major upwelling zone on our coast? (hint, the conveyor belt is NOT a major factor in our upwelling zone, unlike other zones like the Peruvian coast)

Answer 2

Global Wind patterns and the earth natural rotation

Question 3

3. How does upwelling affect dynamics such as phytoplankton production, fish and seabirds? Why?

Answer 3

hella production because of the upwelling of nutrients and a good plankton foundation for the food web

Question 4

4. Upwelling is critical for phytoplankton production, but in the context of ocean acidification it can also have negative impacts on some types of plankton. Explain.

Answer 4

sometimes the upwelling brings lots of acidification with it as well. That’s not good for plankton

Question 5

5. Why are the top 4 upwelling zones on the planet all located on the west coast of continents?

Answer 5

Because of the rotation of the earth & global wind patterns

Question 6

6. Why are diatoms the most common phytoplankton in Puget Sound, rather than coccolithophores?

Answer 6

because there are high level of silica, which diatoms use to make their shells

Question 7

7. Why do nutrient concentrations in Puget Sound decline during the summer?

Answer 7

Because of the huge phytoplankton bloom, takes all the nutrients

Question 8

8. What are the most common herbivores in the zooplankton?

Answer 8

Copepods

Question 9

a. What is the largest planktivorous fish in Puget Sound? Though once relatively common, why is it rarely seen anymore?

Answer 9

Basking Shark! They were killed because they were thought to be annoying to fishermen

Question 10

9. What is one of the most important holoplankton, in terms of its role in the broader Puget Sound foodweb?

Answer 10

Krill and Crustaceans

Question 11

10. Name three kinds of meroplankton (animals that have planktonic larvae).

Answer 11

Jelly fish
Crabs
Barnacles
Fish
Sea Squirts

Question 12

11. Whats a major difference between a soft coral (such as we have here, like the sea pen) and a hard (calcareous) coral from the tropics?

Answer 12

Soft coral don’t build reefs

Question 13

12. How do soft corals and sponges get their food?

Answer 13

They are filter feeders

Question 14

13. Why are the glass sponge reefs of British Columbia really cool?

Answer 14

Thought to be extinct until late 80’s

Huge 9K year old reef. oldest kind in the world.

Question 15

14. What position do forage fish hold in the Puget Sound food web?

Answer 15

THE LINK BETWEEN PLANKTON AND BIGGER FISH!

Question 16

15. Name your favorite Puget Sound fish and why you like it.

Answer 16

Spiny Lumpsucker