Hydrodynamics and zooplankton community structure in the lee of Helix Reef, central Great Barrier Reef (1992)

Zooplankton were collected over three consecutive nights of the new moon (4-6 January 1992) in an array of 16 light traps anchored downstream of Helix Reef in the central Great Barrier Reef. Three traps were placed within 50 m of the reef crest (A-C) and the remainder were moored in a regular grid pattern across a NW-SE axis. Most traps were cleared several times each night after the lit periods (2100-2200, 2400-0100, 0300-0400). Zooplankton were identified to 53 taxa from the 105 samples taken and abundances counted. Seven clusters were determined using the parameters dates, sampling times, locations, taxa.A two-step depth-averaged hydrodynamic model was applied. The tidal predictions required to force the data were calculated from historical amplitude and phase data, and wind data from nearby Myrmidon Reef. For fine-scale near-reef circulation a two-dimensional depth-averaged hydrodynamic model was nested within the larger-scale model. Boundary forcing data was obtained from sea level and current predictions generated by the regional model. To investigate which physical processes determine zooplankton community structure in waters close to coral reefs. Taxa: Actinotroch larvae; Bivalve larvae; Calanoid Copepoda; Cephalapoda; Ceratium; Chaetognatha; Cirripedia cypris; Cladocera; Crab; Ctenophora; Cumacea; Cyclopoid Copepoda; Decapoda; Decapoda larvae; Doliolum; Echinodermata larvae; Echinopluteus larvae; Euphausiacea; Euphausiacea larvae; Fish eggs; Fish larvae; Foraminifera; Galatheidae; Gammaridea; Gastropoda larvae; Heteropoda; Hydromedusa; Hyperid Amphipoda; Isopoda; Larvacea; Luciferidae; Megalopa; Miscellaneous eggs; Monstrilloid Copepoda; Mysidacea; Nauplii; Ostracoda; Phylosoma larvae; Polychaeta; Polychaeta larvae; Pteropoda; Rhabdosoma; Salpidae; Scyllaridea puerulus; Scyphomedusa; Siphonophora; Stomatopoda; Tornaria larvae; Trochophore larvae; Turbellaria; Zoanthina sp.; Zoea.