Chemical Signaling in the Turbulent Ocean—Hide and Seek at the Kolmogorov Scale

• DOI: 10.3390/fluids5020054
• Publication Date: 2020-04-22T08:15:13Z
• Authors: Erik Selander; Sam T. Fredriksson; Lars Arneborg
• Keywords: Kolmogorov microscales; Stratification (seeds); Horizontal plane

Chemical cues and signals mediate resource acquisition, mate finding, the assessment of predation risk in marine plankton. Here, we use chemical properties first identified from zooplankton together with situ measurements turbulent dissipation rates to calculate effect turbulence on distribution behind swimmers as well steady state background concentrations surrounding water. We further show that common (copepods) appears optimize finding by aggregating at surface calm conditions when do not prevent trail following. This near environment is characterized anisotropic show, using direct numerical simulations, distribute more horizontal plane than vertically these conditions. Zooplankton may consequently benefit adopting specific search strategies strong stratification where similar flow fields develop. Steady concentrations, exudation balanced degradation develops a time scale ~5 h. conclude trails millimeter-sized copepods can be detected naturally occurring below wind mixed layer or absence wind. The trails, however, shorten dramatically high rates, above ~10−3 cm2 s−3 (10−7 W kg−1)