Ocean Deoxygenation Conference | Kiel 2018

As a result of cultural eutrophication, bottom water hypoxia has been increasing globally in estuarine and shelf waters. Coastal hypoxia has the potential to adversely impact pelagic zooplankton communities by increasing the mortality of copepod eggs which can sink into low oxygen bottom waters. Using depth-specific sampling we examined the vertical distribution of copepod eggs and nauplii over different seasons in a coastal plain estuary of the eastern United States, the Chesapeake Bay. We compare the vertical distribution of copepod eggs and nauplii to the results of a mechanistic model which takes into account the sinking rate of copepod eggs; the temperature-driven hatching rate of copepod eggs in the water column; and the effects of low oxygen on egg hatching.