Linking Gulf Stream Physical Forces and the Temporal Variability of the Mesopelagic Prey Community Off Cape Hatteras Using a Bio-physical Mooring

Faculty #40
Discipline: Ecology, Environmental & Earth Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
- Savannah State University
Co-Author(s): Doug Nowacek, Duke University , Durham, NC; John Horne, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

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The influence of Gulf Stream flow variability on the confluent region off the Cape Hatteras slope was investigated using a bio-physical mooring deployed from March, 2016 to May, 2017. The mooring was equipped with hydrographic sensors (CTDs), current meters (ADCPs), and an acoustic echosounder (Simrad 70 kHz WBAT) and was co-located with a passive acoustic recorder to detect marine mammal presence/absence. This multi-sensor mooring optimized whole-water coverage of both physical and biological factors over 900 m water depth, to determine the influence of the Gulf Stream on the mesopelagic community and top predators. The influence of Gulf Stream warm water intrusions, extending to at least 550m depth over a period of several days to weeks on the density and vertical distribution of the mesopelagic community was explored. The combination of moored environmental and biological sensors demonstrates a novel approach to studying the links between physics and apex predators in a diverse, deep-water slope ecosystem.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HBCU-UP RIA

Faculty Advisor: None Listed,