The nearshore plankton holding zone

Abstract

Concentration of zooplankton in a holding zone near the shore during onshore winds may be explained hypothetically by the built-in behavioural responses of planktonic organisms to landwash vibrations. These responses initiate vertical or other migrations which take advantage of compensatory outward currents and keep the plankton from drifting ashore. Lagoon or estuary entrances change the 'noise' pattern and the plankton enter the estuary at the deepest part of such channels with inward tidal flows.