Climate-Modulated Volume Transport through the Coral Triangle and Its Impacts on Larval Connectivity
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Lietzke, Sarah
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Haidvogel, Dale B.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, School of Graduate Studies
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2019
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
188 p.
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, School of Graduate Studies
Text preceding or following the note
2019
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Possessing complex bathymetry and regional circulation, the Coral Triangle (CT) is also the epicenter of marine biodiversity. Understanding regional circulation and the effects of intra-annual, seasonal and interannual processes on this circulation has important ramifications for larval transport, particularly in the context of changing climate. Using the Coral Triangle implementation of the Regional Ocean Modeling System (CT-ROMS), volume transport time series are assessed at 30 key passages throughout the region. Generally, seasonality seems to be the main modulator of volume transport along the South China Sea Throughflow (SCSTF), while the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) volume transport is primarily influenced by interannual and secular changes in circulation. However, a ridge regression model which uses El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) as explanatory variables is able to explain a significant portion of the volume transport through SCSTF passages. Many oceanic species have larval stages which behave similarly to passive particles; being able to track these passive particles and understand where they might go under certain oceanic conditions provides us information that researchers cannot easily obtain in situ. TRACMASS, an offline particle tracking code, is used to track passive particles for 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 days in order to assess decadal and internannual variability in particle retention, and the ability of particular ecoregions to function as particle sources and sinks along the South China Sea Returnflow (SCSRF) and the ITF. Due to the complexity in regional circulation, results are often localized to particular ecoregions. However, particle retention is generally higher during El Niño conditions along the SCSRF and during the 1980s along the ITF. Generally, our results highlight the need for networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and dynamic MPAs including temporary, migratory, zoned and gear-restricted MPAs. In order for any of these management strategies to be successful, the social and political challenges of a given location need to be considered, and representatives of all stakeholder groups need to be included in management decisions.
UNCONTROLLED SUBJECT TERMS
Subject Term
Physical oceanography
PERSONAL NAME - PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY
Lietzke, Sarah
PERSONAL NAME - SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITY
Haidvogel, Dale B.
CORPORATE BODY NAME - SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITY
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, School of Graduate Studies