Estuarine Influences on a Continental Shelf Plankton Community

Abstract

On the southeastern U.S. continental shelf, phytoplankton primary production and the densities of zooplankton, fish eggs, and fish larvae peak simultaneously in late summer and early fall. Some community response to irregular storm events is observed. However, the gross plankton community dynamics on this shelf are dominated by couplings with the local estuaries and shallow nearshore zone.