Plankton dynamics associated with the convergence zone of a shear front in the permanently open Kowie Estuary, South Africa
Abstract
Estuarine frontal systems are thought to play an important role in plankton accumulations in estuaries. However, knowledge surrounding these estuarine circulation patterns is not clear, and consensus regarding the importance of fronts has yet to be reached. A full appraisal of the plankton in frontal systems in the estuary was undertaken. Ichthyoplankton, zooplankton and phytoplankton were collected from in and out of the frontal systems in the Kowie Estuary, using two WP2 plankton nets....