Internal Waves and Aquatic Ecosystems

Tidal currents create swirling motions in the water, mixing nutrients from deep layers to the surface where sunlight reaches.

Tidal turbulence can break up large groups of plankton and spread them out more evenly throughout the water column.

Increased encounter rates between predators and prey due to tidal movement.

Tidal mixing helps transport and keep planktonic larvae close to suitable habitats.

Tidal turbulence helps blend nutrient-rich water with sunlight, promoting phytoplankton growth.

Waves that move within a body of water, specifically at layers where density changes drastically.

The boundary between layers of water with drastically different temperatures.

Internal waves move plankton up and down in the water column.

Internal waves can bring phytoplankton closer to the surface, increasing their exposure to sunlight.

Internal waves can create areas where plankton become concentrated, providing feeding grounds for predators.

Tidal mixing can transport and retain planktonic larvae near spawning grounds or into other habitats, influencing the number of young that survive.

Tidal mixing creates alternating periods of increased mixing and settling, which affects the distribution and abundance of plankton in coastal regions.

Internal waves are caused by the flow of water over underwater features like ridges or slopes.

Internal waves can influence plankton distribution by transporting them vertically or horizontally within the water column. This movement can impact their feeding and survival.

Internal waves create areas where plankton gather in high concentrations, acting as feeding grounds for larger animals.

Turbulence from internal waves helps spread plankton throughout the water column, increasing their distribution.

They are concentrations of nutrients and plankton that form from the interaction of water masses with different densities.

Internal waves can trap plankton in areas where they can be easily accessed by predators.

Areas where water from different layers mixes, caused by the interaction of tides and sunlight. Common in places with strong tidal currents, like where the shelf meets the deep ocean.

Tidal fronts bring nutrients from deep water up where sunlight reaches, fueling tiny plants called phytoplankton.

Tidal fronts concentrate zooplankton, which are small animals that fish love to eat.

Tidal fronts attract large groups of fish (like herring, mackerel) that eat zooplankton.

Seabirds and whales rely on these areas for food, as they gather lots of fish that are concentrated near tidal fronts.

Tidal fronts are areas where the ocean current changes direction. These areas are important for fish larvae because they provide a lot of food and protection.

At tidal fronts, fish larvae can find plenty of food and grow quickly, increasing their chances of survival.

The North Sea is a great example where lots of important fish species rely on tidal fronts for their young.

Seabirds, like puffins and terns, depend on tidal fronts to find food. They know the fish will be concentrated there.

Diagrams can help show how tidal currents create fronts and how they impact marine life.