Only 10 percent of the biomass at one level is transferred to a higher level. In turn, about 10 percent of the zooplankton energy is transferred to fish larvae and small fish. About 10 percent of the biomass of those small fish is transferred to larger fish, such as striped bass. It's going to dissipate somehow. The reason, again, is timing.
Algae begin grow within a matter of days when a wave of nutrients fills the Bay.
Zooplankton take longer - maybe several weeks or longer. A sudden burst of nutrients can, therefore, cause an algae bloom that would grow, die and sink to the bottom before the zooplankton can consume any. This is critical. If there were not zooplankton, or fewer zooplankton, more of that phytoplankton would just grow up, sink, rot and use up the oxygen. And preliminary indications are that this year will, in fact, have high zooplankton production, Roman said.