Small-scale turbulence and plankton contact rates

Theoretical and empirical studies of plankton trophodynamicsare usually based on some function of the relative density ofpredator-and-prey plankton. Such approaches based only on therelative density of predator and prey generally underestimatepredator-prey contact rates because contact depends on boththe relative density and the relative velocity of predator andprey. We estimate the components of predator-and-prey contactthat are due to small-scale turbulence. The small-scale turbulenceeffect suggests reconsidering estimates of plankton food requirements,energy gain-and-loss from foraging and mechanisms associatedwith patch formation and dissipation.