Presentation Abstract
Zooplankton are critical components of the pelagic food web. This presentation will discuss zooplankton ecology in the Fraser River Estuary, drawing on the preliminary results of a monitoring study, which ran from August 2013 to May 2016, as well as specific investigations into the life history and behaviour of one of the dominant species, the copepod Eurytemora affinis. Data analysis is ongoing, but, for most of the year, estuarine zooplankton appear limited by the estuary’s short residence time. Due to the advective nature of their environment, estuarine zooplankton have evolved mechanisms to retain populations within the estuary. Our results suggest that E. affinis employs tidal vertical migration and the production of benthic resting eggs, but that these mechanisms may be insufficient to maintain populations in the fast-flowing channel areas of the estuary. The predicted changes to the Fraser’s annual hydrograph will further reduce the estuary’s residence time during the spring but will increase it in the summer. Paired with higher temperature, this may open a novel niche in the estuary with could be exploited by non-indigenous species. One such species, considered invasive in the U.S., has been found to date. The results of this study can help inform policy, management, and restoration efforts by lending insight into the ecology of this estuary and how its zooplankton community will respond to changes in climate.
Session Title
Posters: Species & Food Webs
Keywords
Fraser River Estuary, Climate change, Resting eggs, Vertical migrations, Channelization
Conference Track
SSE18: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE18-107
Start Date
5-4-2018 11:30 AM
End Date
5-4-2018 1:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Zooplankton--British Columbia--Fraser River Watershed; Eurytemora affinis--British Columbia--Fraser River Watershed; Food chains (Ecology)--British Columbia--Fraser River Watershed
Geographic Coverage
Fraser River Watershed (B.C.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Zooplankton ecology of the Fraser River estuary
Zooplankton are critical components of the pelagic food web. This presentation will discuss zooplankton ecology in the Fraser River Estuary, drawing on the preliminary results of a monitoring study, which ran from August 2013 to May 2016, as well as specific investigations into the life history and behaviour of one of the dominant species, the copepod Eurytemora affinis. Data analysis is ongoing, but, for most of the year, estuarine zooplankton appear limited by the estuary’s short residence time. Due to the advective nature of their environment, estuarine zooplankton have evolved mechanisms to retain populations within the estuary. Our results suggest that E. affinis employs tidal vertical migration and the production of benthic resting eggs, but that these mechanisms may be insufficient to maintain populations in the fast-flowing channel areas of the estuary. The predicted changes to the Fraser’s annual hydrograph will further reduce the estuary’s residence time during the spring but will increase it in the summer. Paired with higher temperature, this may open a novel niche in the estuary with could be exploited by non-indigenous species. One such species, considered invasive in the U.S., has been found to date. The results of this study can help inform policy, management, and restoration efforts by lending insight into the ecology of this estuary and how its zooplankton community will respond to changes in climate.
