ABSTRACT
The existence of small-scale (<1 m) planktonic structures and their importance to the dynamics of the aquatic ecosystem are now widely acknowledged in the oceanographic and limnology community (e.g., Hanson and Donaghay, 1998; Holliday et al.,
1998; Jaffe et al.,
1998; Franks and Jaffe, 2001). Despite recent advances in experimental technology (Mitchell and Fuhrman, 1989; Donaghay
et al.,
1992; Desiderio et al.,
1993), most Þeld work is conducted using conventional sampling methods (such as Niskin bottles or
in situ
ßuorometers mounted on CTD cages), which do not resolve the small-scale biological structures.
