Question

Marine biology, 1.4

Meroplanktonic larvae often spend more time in the fjords, than the ocean that brought them there in the first place?

Why are they not flushed away from the fjords?

Answer 1

Meroplanktones are those species of marine organisms that reamain planktons only for certain life period.Most of the larval stages of the crustaceans like crab,jelly fish ,star fish ,sea urchin and fishes live in planktones and swim to benthic zone of ocean after they reach adulthood.These larve form colonies or groups for survival and escape predators.They larve are released mostly during algal bloom period which serve as the food and shelter.

Fjords are the water body made by glaciated area usually close to the shore but deep.The melting ice from the glacriers created fjords.Area is mostly surrounded by mountains with narrow sides.

Meroplanktons avoid flushed away from the Fjord by exhibiting certain swimming rhythms as per the reverse tidal migration and vise versa.They don't swim to the bottom of the ocean but remain on the surface of the water.As tide lower thhey get back to the estuary.Various other morphological parts like cilia,flagella,spikes and moist sticky body fluid help them to cling into the hard surface to prevent flushed far from the hatching site.Cileia and flagelated form of locomotory organs help meroplanktons from washing away and keep pase with the predators.Clinging to each other in group also protect them from heavy wave.