Zooplankton retention in Muchalat Inlet, a fjord basin in Nootka Sound, BC

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] The distribution of zooplankton populations in response to tidal forcing was studied at Williamson Sill in Muchalat inlet of Nootka Sound, British Columbia, Canada in December 2015. Net tows were taken at four stations surrounding the sill and were analyzed for abundance (organisms m-3) and organism size. Results show a higher accumulation of zooplankton on the outward side of Williamson Sill during ebb and flood tides, suggesting the sill is utilized by zooplankton as a means of avoiding transport out of their preferred habitat.

University of Washington School of Oceanography