The primary focus of this particular modeling study is to determine to what extent the retention of the larval stages of these fish on the bank is physically determined. This implies that passively transported larvae have a better chance of remaining on the Bank, and surviving to recruit if they remain in the deeper portions of the water column. Simulation experiments indicated that interaction of vertical migration behavior and advective transport could be important in determining the fate of individual larvae in this ecosystem. Interactions between the physical environment and organisms at very small scales were addressed by two presentations. A second presentation considered the effects of turbulence on the feeding currents of copepods.
Turbulent intensity can markedly affect feeding success and feeding behavior.
More studies are needed to better document the effects of variable turbulence on feeding and animal behavior more generally. Three presentations focused on biological aspects of secondary production measurement and modeling. The first related to the relatively recent recognition that protozooplankton are a major grazer in most ocean ecosystems. Clearly, if much of the primary production is being consumed by this group, this will have an impact on the overall energy available to the mesozooplankton, including larval fish. Thus, the protozooplankton may be an important trophic link between small producers and larger consumers.