Short-term effects of coastal upwelling and wind reversals on epiplanktonic cnidarians in the southern Benguela ecosystem
Pagès, F.; Verheye, H.M.; Gili, J.-M.; Flos, J. (1991). Short-term effects of coastal upwelling and wind reversals on epiplanktonic cnidarians in the southern Benguela ecosystem. S. Afr. J. Mar. Sci./S.-Afr. Tydskr. Seewet. 10(1): 203-211. http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/02577619109504632 In: South African Journal of Marine Science = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Seewetenskap. Marine & Coastal Management: Cape Town. ISSN 0257-7615, more |  |
| Authors | | Top | - Pagès, F., more
- Verheye, H.M.
- Gili, J.-M.
- Flos, J.
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| Abstract | Patterns in the distribution of epiplanktonic cnidarians collected along the west coast of South Africa during June 1986 were examined. Upwelling-favourable south-easterly winds prevailed prior to sampling. These winds are believed to have transported coastal cnidarian assemblages offshore, resulting in a blurring of the inshore-offshore zonation of species. A wind reversal, to northerly winds in the north and north-westerly winds in the south, followed upwelling and persisted during sample collection. This resulted in the development of a distinct thermohaline front off Cape Columbine. Another consequence was the advection of oceanic water shorewards in the south, disrupting the original pattern of species zonation and redistributing cnidarian assemblages in a longshore pattern. Three different assemblages are differentiated: one north of Cape Columbine, consisting of coastal species, one south of Cape Columbine with a mixture of neritic and oceanic species, and one single-species community with coastal affinity inshore north of Cape Columbine. The effects of wind-driven onshore advection of offshore waters on the coastal communities of gelatinous zooplankters are discussed. |
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