Distribution of Capelin (Mallotus villosus) in relation to coastal upwelling in the Avalon Channel

Abstract

Three hypotheses were developed from a series of studies of capelin distribution in the southern Labrador Current. The hypotheses were that: (1) water mass replacement due to coastal upwelling occurs at the spatial scale predicted by the balance between buoyant and Coriolis forces; (2) upwelling generates a cross-shore gradient in capelin abundance; and (3) this gradient decays after an episode of upwelling favorable winds. Repeated observational experiments showed that capelin respond to strong upwelling events (sea surface temperature less than 2°C) but do not respond to more typical events. -from Author