Rosenberg Institute Seminar Series - Jeff Dorman

Jeff Dorman, Executive Director, Farallon Institute 

Estimating zooplankton from autonomous underwater gliders in the California Current

Abstract: Satellites, buoys, and autonomous vehicles have vastly improved our collection of physical oceanographic data (temperature, salinity, oxygen, currents, etc.), but beyond phytoplankton measurements, there have been limited applications in biological oceanography.  As such there are few zooplankton indices that readily available and utilized in management on the US West Coast.  This work utilizes 20 years of acoustic data, collected as part of the California Underwater Glider Network, combined with net collected zooplankton from the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations, to develop an automated zooplankton index for the Southern California Bight.  Results show correlation between the ADCP backscatter with total zooplankton biomass, and particularly with copepod abundance measures.  Given the ubiquitous nature of copepods in the ocean, these results have the potential to be exported to other gliders equipped with ADCP’s beyond the Southern California Bight.

Bio:  Jeff Dorman is a Scientist and Executive Director of Farallon Institute, a non-profit marine research and education organization that conducts oceanographic research to support healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems and fisheries.  Jeff has been conducting research on zooplankton in the California Current for 25 years, particularly what drives variability in important prey species. Jeff believes in utilizing the best possible science in management of ocean resources and in that light serves on the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.