The wind-driven distribution of nearshore zooplankton in a stratified lake varies with their body size

Wind-driven forces are expected to concentrate zooplankton along downwind shores in lakes and provide food subsidy to nearshore food webs, but the bathymetric complexity of nearshore areas could result in high spatial variability. Here we test: (1) whether zooplankton accumulate downwind on windy days, and whether the magnitude of accumulation varies with zooplankton body size and with nearshore bathymetric slope; and (2) whether nearshore zooplankton are more spatially variable than offshore zooplankton, and whether their spatial variability is related to wind conditions and to zooplankton body size. This study focuses on zooplankton distribution at the whole-lake basin and at intermediate (10 m-1 km) spatial scales. Zooplankton were sampled repeatedly along four c. 1 km transects at each of the upwind and downwind ends of a 22.1-km(2) stratified lake basin. Two transects were oriented perpendicular to shore and two were parallel, one close to shore and the other further offshore. Zooplankton were sampled along each transect using an optical plankton counter morning and afternoon over 3 consecutive days, under a range of wind conditions, during early stratification (early June), mid-stratification (mid-July) and late stratification (late September). A 3D-hydrodynamic model was used to help interpret the results. Small-bodied zooplankton accumulated downwind during windy periods, reaching 8%-34% higher biomass than the basin-wide average. This downwind accumulation of biomass was best explained by a partial (metalimnetic) upwelling displacing the epilimnion to the downwind end of the lake basin. Active upward movement of zooplankton is required to explain near-surface biomass accumulation in this displaced water mass. Large-bodied zooplankton accumulated in nearshore areas, regardless of wind conditions. Higher nearshore accumulation of large zooplankton was observed along transects following a shallow (1.9%) bathymetric slope but not along a steep (6%) slope. Large-bodied zooplankton are more patchily distributed than small-bodied zooplankton, both nearshore and offshore. The spatial variability of large zooplankton declined with increasing wind speed, but only at upwind sites. The patchy distribution of large-bodied zooplankton is driven, or at least strongly influenced, by biological processes. The spatial distribution and patchiness of zooplankton varies with wind speed, zooplankton body size and nearshore bathymetry. Planktonic organisms are not passive drifters, and their patchiness and influx to certain parts of the lake during windy periods are both expected to affect the efficiency of trophic transfers in lake food webs.

Automated summary

This study examines the effect of wind on zooplankton distribution and finds that zooplankton accumulate downwind during windy periods. Small-bodied zooplankton accumulate more during downwind periods, while large-bodied zooplankton accumulate in nearshore areas. The spatial distribution and patchiness of zooplankton vary with wind speed, zooplankton body size, and nearshore bathymetry.