Temporal and Spatial Scales in Phytoplankton Ecology. Mechanisms, Methods, Models, and Management

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 877-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham P. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Frequency Variation ◽  
Phytoplankton Ecology ◽  
Variable Environments ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Nonsteady State ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

This article is essentially a review of the temporal and spatial scales of variability in both marine and freshwater planktonic environments and the algal responses to those scales. I assert that there are problems with our present understanding of these scales and the use of inappropriate assumptions concerning the occurrence of steady-state conditions. In a nonsteady-state environment the concepts of limiting nutrients must be changed, and the extrapolation from culture to field conditions is fraught with problems. In this paper I review the evidence for the existence and importance of small-scale, high frequency and large-scale, low frequency variation in the planktonic environment and show that such variation fundamentally affects our understanding of existing processes. Methodology and models must also reflect the true scales of variability which exist. I show that there are, at present, problems with our understanding of planktonic processes which greatly affect our ability to manage water quality. New concepts and models are urgently needed. Finally I propose a new model of community structure and process in variable environments which accounts for the correct 'algal' scales of perturbation and response and allows certain predictions to be made. It is possible to reconcile certain problems and controversies in the literature by the use of such a model. An enhanced ability to manage planktonic systems should result from an improved understanding of the true scales of variability which exist.Key words: lakes, oceans, phytoplankton, communities, nutrients, models, management, eutrophication, fluctuations, scales

Small-Scale Covariability in the Abundance of Fish Larvae and Their Prey

1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Fortier ◽  
W. C. Leggett
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Differential Mortality ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽  
Clupea Harengus Harengus

We studied the covariability in the abundance of larval fish and rnicrozooplankton at a fixed station of the St. Lawrence upper estuary. Hourly sampling during 129 h combined with net and tidal circulations allowed us to resolve spatial scales of approximately 2 km to several tens of kilometres. Low-frequency fluctuations in the abundance of larval capelin (Mallotus villosus) and larval Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus) reflected the advection past the station of successive cohorts. Large-scale horizontal gradients in abundance and length were apparently formed at the emergence of the larvae from the spawning beds. The majority of capelin larvae we sampled had not yet completely exhausted their yolk reserves. There was no indication that differential mortality or active swimming had produced a concordance between the distribution of this species and the distribution of microzooplankton. Herring larvae resorbed their yolk sac and began mandatory exogenous feeding during the period of sampling. Tidal and subtidal patterns of variation in the abundance of this species and microzooplankton became significantly coherent after the resorption of the vitelline reserves. The possible mechanisms giving rise to coherence at these two different scales are considered in light of published information on the feeding behavior and swimming capacity of herring larvae.

scholarly journals Enhancing ecosystem restoration efficiency through spatial and temporal coordination

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (19) ◽  
pp. 6236-6241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Neeson ◽  
Michael C. Ferris ◽  
Matthew W. Diebel ◽  
Patrick J. Doran ◽  
Jesse R. O’Hanley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Ecosystem Connectivity ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Local Expert ◽  
Conservation Projects

In many large ecosystems, conservation projects are selected by a diverse set of actors operating independently at spatial scales ranging from local to international. Although small-scale decision making can leverage local expert knowledge, it also may be an inefficient means of achieving large-scale objectives if piecemeal efforts are poorly coordinated. Here, we assess the value of coordinating efforts in both space and time to maximize the restoration of aquatic ecosystem connectivity. Habitat fragmentation is a leading driver of declining biodiversity and ecosystem services in rivers worldwide, and we simultaneously evaluate optimal barrier removal strategies for 661 tributary rivers of the Laurentian Great Lakes, which are fragmented by at least 6,692 dams and 232,068 road crossings. We find that coordinating barrier removals across the entire basin is nine times more efficient at reconnecting fish to headwater breeding grounds than optimizing independently for each watershed. Similarly, a one-time pulse of restoration investment is up to 10 times more efficient than annual allocations totaling the same amount. Despite widespread emphasis on dams as key barriers in river networks, improving road culvert passability is also essential for efficiently restoring connectivity to the Great Lakes. Our results highlight the dramatic economic and ecological advantages of coordinating efforts in both space and time during restoration of large ecosystems.

Mycorrhizal fungal community relationship to root nitrogen concentration over a regional atmospheric nitrogen deposition gradient in the northeastern USA

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1260-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik A. Lilleskov ◽  
Philip M. Wargo ◽  
Kristiina A. Vogt ◽  
Daniel J. Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Cenococcum Geophilum ◽  
Ectomycorrhizal Morphotypes ◽  
Deposition Gradient ◽  
Northeastern Usa

Increased nitrogen (N) input has been found to alter ectomycorrhizal fungal communities over short deposition gradients and in fertilization experiments; however, its effects over larger spatial scales have not been determined. To address this gap, we reanalyzed data from a study originally designed to examine the effects of soil aluminum/calcium (Al/Ca) ratios on the vitality of red spruce fine roots over a regional acid and N deposition gradient in the northeastern USA. We used root N as an indicator of stand N availability and examined its relationship with the abundance of ectomycorrhizal morphotypes. The dominant morphotypes changed in relative abundance as a function of stand N availability. As root N concentrations increased, Piloderma spp. - like, Cenococcum geophilum Fr., and other unidentified mycorrhizal morphotypes declined in abundance, while other smooth-mantled morphotypes increased. Root N concentration in the 1–2 mm diameter class was the best predictor of the abundance of multiple morphotypes. The morphotype responses were consistent with those found in experimental and small-scale studies, suggesting that N availability is altering ectomycorrhizal communities over broad spatial scales in this region. This finding provides an impetus to conduct a more detailed characterization of mycorrhizal community responses to N deposition across large-scale gradients.

The power distribution between the symmetric and anti-symmetric components of the tropical wavenumber-frequency spectrum

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofer Shamir ◽  
Chen Schwartz ◽  
Chaim Garfinkel ◽  
Nathan Paldor
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spectral Power ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Turbulent Energy ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Parity Distribution

<p>A yet unexplained feature of the tropical wavenumber-frequency spectrum is its parity distributions, i.e., the distribution of power between the meridionally symmetric and anti-symmetric components of the spectrum. Due to the linearity of the decomposition to symmetric and anti-symmetric components and the Fourier analysis, the total spectral power equals the sum of the power contained in each of these two components. However, the spectral power need not be evenly distributed between the two components. Satellite observations and reanalysis data provide ample evidence that the parity distribution of the tropical wavenumber-frequency spectrum is biased towards its symmetric component. Using an intermediate-complexity model of an idealized moist atmosphere, we find that the parity distribution of the tropical spectrum is nearly insensitive to large-scale forcing, including topography, ocean heat fluxes, and land-sea contrast. On the other hand, by adding a small-scale (stochastic) forcing, we find that the parity distribution of the tropical spectrum is sensitive to asymmetries on small spatial scales compared to the observed large-scale spectrum. Physically, such forcing can be thought of as small-scale convection, which is believed to trigger some of the Tropics' large-scale features via an upscale (inverse) turbulent energy cascade. These results are qualitatively explained by considering the effects of triad interactions on the parity distribution. According to the proposed mechanism, any small-scale asymmetry (symmetric or anti-symmetric) in the forcing leads to symmetric bias in the spectrum, regardless of the source of variability providing the forcing.</p>

scholarly journals Internal tide energy flux over a ridge measured by a co-located ocean glider and moored ADCP

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Hall ◽  
Barbara Berx ◽  
Gillian Damerell
Keyword(s):  
Energy Flux ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Internal Tide ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Potential Density ◽  
The North ◽  
Model Study ◽  
Continental Shelves ◽  
Alternative Approach

Abstract. Internal tide energy flux is an important diagnostic for the study of energy pathways in the ocean, from large-scale input by the surface tide, to small-scale dissipation by turbulent mixing. Accurate calculation of energy flux requires repeated full-depth measurements of both potential density (ρ) and horizontal current velocity (u) over at least a tidal cycle and over several weeks to resolve the internal spring-neap cycle. Typically, these observations are made using full-depth oceanographic moorings that are vulnerable to being fished-out by commercial trawlers when deployed on continental shelves and slopes. Here we test an alternative approach to minimise these risks, with u measured by a low-frequency ADCP moored near the seabed and ρ measured by an autonomous ocean glider holding station by the ADCP. The method is used to measure the M2 internal tide radiating from the Wyville Thompson Ridge in the North Atlantic. The observed energy flux (4.2 ± 0.2 kW m−1) compares favourably with historic observations and a previous numerical model study. Error in the energy flux calculation due to imperfect co-location of the glider and ADCP is estimated by sub-sampling potential density in an idealised internal tide field along pseudorandomly distributed glider paths. The error is considered acceptable (

Enhanced dissipation for quasi-geostrophic motion over small-scale topography

2000 ◽  
Vol 407 ◽  
pp. 105-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
JACQUES VANNESTE
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Additional Term ◽  
Equation Of Motion ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Turbulent Dissipation ◽  
Dissipative Term ◽  
History Of ◽  
Large Scale Flow

The effect of a small-scale topography on large-scale, small-amplitude oceanic motion is analysed using a two-dimensional quasi-geostrophic model that includes free-surface and β effects, Ekman friction and viscous (or turbulent) dissipation. The topography is two-dimensional and periodic; its slope is assumed to be much larger than the ratio of the ocean depth to the Earth's radius. An averaged equation of motion is derived for flows with spatial scales that are much larger than the scale of the topography and either (i) much larger than or (ii) comparable to the radius of deformation. Compared to the standard quasi-geostrophic equation, this averaged equation contains an additional dissipative term that results from the interaction between topography and dissipation. In case (i) this term simply represents an additional Ekman friction, whereas in case (ii) it is given by an integral over the history of the large-scale flow. The properties of the additional term are studied in detail. For case (i) in particular, numerical calculations are employed to analyse the dependence of the additional Ekman friction on the structure of the topography and on the strength of the original dissipation mechanisms.

scholarly journals Hydrologic-environmental effects of sponge city under different spatial scales

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiake Li ◽  
Cong Mu ◽  
Chenning Deng ◽  
Menghua Ma
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pollution Load ◽  
Sponge City ◽  
Medium Scale ◽  
Total Runoff ◽  
Runoff Reduction

Abstract The storm water management models were established at three spatial scales (large, medium, and small) based on a sponge city pilot area in China to explore the hydrological and environmental effects of rainfall conditions and development modes. Results showed the following. (1) Total runoff reduction rates increased from 26.7% to 53.9% for the rainfall event of a 2-year recurrence period as the scale increased. For 5-year and above recurrence periods, total runoff reduction rates were 19.5–49.4%. These rates increased from the small to medium scale and slightly decreased from the medium to large scale. (2) The runoff coefficients were 0.87–0.29, which decreased from the small to medium scale and were basically constant from the medium to large scale. (3) The peak flow reduction rates decreased with increased recurrence periods. The rates increased initially and then decreased at the small scale, whereas the opposite trend occurred at the medium scale. (4) The reduction rates of pollutants were negatively correlated with recurrence periods under the three spatial scales. The pollution load reduction rates were 19.5–54.7%, which increased from the small to medium scale and were basically constant from the medium to large scale.

On the survival of strong vortex filaments in ‘model’ turbulence

1999 ◽  
Vol 394 ◽  
pp. 261-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERTO VERZICCO ◽  
JAVIER JIMÉNEZ
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Axial Strain ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Theoretical Explanation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vortex Filaments ◽  
Single Scale

This paper discusses numerical experiments in which an initially uniform columnar vortex is subject to several types of axisymmetric forcing that mimic the strain field of a turbulent flow. The mean value of the strain along the vortex axis is in all cases zero, and the vortex is alternately stretched and compressed. The emphasis is on identifying the parameter range in which the vortex survives indefinitely. This extends previous work in which the effect of steady single-scale non-uniform strains was studied. In a first series of experiments the effect of the unsteadiness of the forcing is analysed, and it is found that the vortex survives as a compact object if the ratio between the oscillation frequency and the strain itself is low enough. A theoretical explanation is given which agrees with the numerical results. The strain is then generalized to include several spatial scales and oscillation frequencies, with characteristics similar to those in turbulent flows. The largest velocities are carried by the large scales, while the highest gradients and faster time scales are associated with the shorter wavelengths. Also in these cases ‘infinitely long’ vortices are obtained which are more or less uniform and compact. Vorticity profiles averaged along their axes are approximately Gaussian. The radii obtained from these profiles are proportional to the Burgers' radius of the r.m.s. (small-scale) axial strain, while the azimuthal velocities are proportional to the maximum (large-scale) axial velocity differences. The study is motivated by previous observations of intense vortex filaments in turbulent flows, and the scalings found in the present experiments are consistent with those found in the turbulent simulations.

Generation of Low-Frequency Spiciness Variability in the Thermocline*

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Kilpatrick ◽  
Niklas Schneider ◽  
Emanuele Di Lorenzo
Keyword(s):  
Markov Model ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Passive Tracer ◽  
Wind Stress Curl ◽  
Frequency Spectra ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Geostrophic Advection

Abstract The generation of variance by anomalous advection of a passive tracer in the thermocline is investigated using the example of density-compensated temperature and salinity anomalies, or spiciness. A coupled Markov model is developed in which wind stress curl forces the large-scale baroclinic ocean pressure that in turn controls the anomalous geostrophic advection of spiciness. The “double integration” of white noise atmospheric forcing by this Markov model results in a frequency (ω) spectrum of large-scale spiciness proportional to ω−4, so that spiciness variability is concentrated at low frequencies. An eddy-permitting regional model hindcast of the northeast Pacific (1950–2007) confirms that time series of large-scale spiciness variability are exceptionally smooth, with frequency spectra ∝ ω−4 for frequencies greater than 0.2 cpy. At shorter spatial scales (wavelengths less than ∼500 km), the spiciness frequency spectrum is whitened by mesoscale eddies, but this eddy-forced variability can be filtered out by spatially averaging. Large-scale and long-term measurements are needed to observe the variance of spiciness or any other passive tracer subject to anomalous advection in the thermocline.

Unsteady Structure Measurement of Cloud Cavitation on a Foil Section Using Conditional Sampling Technique

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kubota ◽  
H. Kato ◽  
H. Yamaguchi ◽  
M. Maeda
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Laser Doppler Anemometry ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Experimental Result ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Conditional Sampling ◽  
Cloud Cavitation ◽  
Structure Of Flow

The structure of flow around unsteady cloud cavitation on a stationary two-dimensional hydrofoil was investigated experimentally using a conditional sampling technique. The unsteady flow velocity around the cloud cavitation was measured by a Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and matched with the unsteady cavitation appearance photographed by a high-speed camera. This matching procedure was performed using data from pressure fluctuation measurements on the foil surface. The velocities were divided into two components using a digital filter, i.e., large-scale (low-frequency) and small-scale (high frequency) ones. The large-scale component corresponds with the large-scale unsteady cloud cavitation motion. In this manner, the unsteady structure of the cloud cavitation was successfully measured. The experimental result showed that the cloud cavitation observed at the present experiment had a vorticity extremum at its center and a cluster containing many small cavitation bubbles. The convection velocity of the cavitation cloud was much lower than the uniform velocity. The small-scale velocity fluctuation was not distributed uniformly in the cavitation cloud, but was concentrated near its boundary.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document