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Figure 1. Zooplankton sampling locations during the Salish Sea Marine
Survival Project. Map provided by Kelly Young, DFO.
ZOOPLANKTON IN THE STRAIT OF GEORGIA
QUESTIONS ADDRESSED DATA CONCLUSIONS
What are the seasonal patterns of
zooplankton species composition,
abundance and biomass in the
northern Salish Sea areas?
How do these properties vary with
changes in physical conditions?
How do variations in these properties
influence the marine growth and
survival of juvenile salmon in these
areas?
Zooplankton collections throughout
the Strait of Georgia 2015-2018 from
DFO surveys to provide a 'backbone'
of stations, smaller charter vessels to
'fill in' times between the DFO surveys
and Citizen Science vessels to sample
selected locations at higher frequency
(e.g., approximately weekly).
Collections of zooplankton are from
vertical net hauls taken during the
day or night using Bongo or SCOR
nets with 236 μm black mesh.
Total zooplankton biomass in Central
and Northern Strait of Georgia has
been increasing since 2010.
Biomass of crustacean zooplankton
(good fish food) showed a U-shaped
pattern over time, with lowest
biomasses during 2002-2009
Statistical models relating physical
conditions and zooplankton biomass
to Chinook and Coho annual marine
survivals are showing clear relation-
ships; and zooplankton prey, salinity
and sea surface temperature stand
out as key explanatory variables
KEY OBJECTIVES
The short-term goal of the Zooplankton Program has
been to identify the seasonal patterns of variability in
zoo/ichthyoplankton species composition, abundance
and biomass in the Strait of Georgia and Juan de Fuca
Strait, and how these patterns relate to changes in
environmental conditions.
Long-term, the aim is to identify the effect that changes
in seasonal patterns of the species composition,
abundance and biomass of the zoo/ichthyoplankton
in these areas have on the growth and early marine
survival of juvenile salmon and, ultimately, their
influence on the overall number of adults that return
to local populations.
Photo
by
Ryan
Miller
