Download our induction pack here - Atlantic Whale Foundation

- Concentrations of plankton usually occur in areas where nutrients are plentiful and surface waters
provide light and warmth for photosynthesis.
- These concentrations are referred to as plankton fronts, and may be induced by tides, the meeting
of currents of different temperatures, changes in the topography of the continental shelves etc.
- Concentrations of plankton form focal points for fish predators & seabird & cetaceans feeding
directly on the plankton or the associated fish.
- This explains why cetaceans are not distributed randomly throughout the world’s oceans.
Phytoplankton & Migration
- Nutrients tend to sink to the bottom of the ocean, and are only bought to the surface in areas of
upwelling of cold deep waters.
- These conditions only occur at certain times in certain parts of the world: - High latitudes, for a short
period in -the summer - Intermediate latitudes, in spring and autumn.
- When conditions are favourable there is a massive production of phytoplankton, which can increase
threefold in a single day, leading to plankton bloom.
- These plankton blooms attract animals to feed, this gives other food supplies which are limiting in
their abundance, time to regenerate and replenish