"Ocean Ecology of Lagrangian Coherent Structures"
Matthew Oliver
Professor of Marine Science and Policy
University of Delaware
March 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Cannon 203 + via Zoom in Robinson 202
Hosted by Xinfeng Liang
Abstract: Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCS) play an interesting role in shaping ocean ecology by acting as invisible boundaries that guide the movement of water masses and the biota they carry. These structures influence the transport and aggregation of plankton, fish larvae, and other small organisms, often creating biological hotspots where prey accumulate, attracting predators and supporting diverse marine life. This seminar will give a background of LCS features, what their relationship to the food web is, and explore them as predictors of large predator movement. Identifying LCS features can lead to understanding the inherent heterogeneity of pelagic ecosystems.