Hydrodynamic control of microphytoplankton bloom in a coastal sea

The influence of hydrodynamics on phytoplankton bloom occurrence/formation has not been adequately reported. Here, we document diurnal observations in the tropical Bay of Bengal’s mid-western shelf region which reveal microphytoplankton cell density maxima in association with neap tide many times mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Earth System Science 2017-08, Vol.126 (6), p.82, Article 82
Main Authors: Murty, K Narasimha, Sarma, Nittala S, Pandi, Sudarsana Rao, Chiranjeevulu, Gundala, Kiran, Rayaprolu, Muralikrishna, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agglomeration
Aggregation
Algae
Algorithms
Biogeochemistry
Blooms
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide fixation
Carbon sequestration
Cell density
Cells
Chlorophyll
Chlorophylls
Coastal zone
Coasts
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Exudates
Exudation
Fisheries
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Fluid mechanics
Food
Food resources
Hydrodynamics
Insolation
Mineral nutrients
Neap tides
Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton bloom
Plankton
Remote sensing
Silicates
Space Exploration and Astronautics
Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
Tropical climate
Water column
Wind
Winds
Zonation
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Summary:The influence of hydrodynamics on phytoplankton bloom occurrence/formation has not been adequately reported. Here, we document diurnal observations in the tropical Bay of Bengal’s mid-western shelf region which reveal microphytoplankton cell density maxima in association with neap tide many times more than what could be accounted for by solar insolation and nutrient levels. When in summer, phytoplankton cells were abundant and the cell density of Guinardia delicatula reached critical value by tide caused zonation, aggregation happened to an intense bloom. Mucilaginous exudates from the alga due to heat and silicate stress likely promoted and stable water column and weak winds left undisturbed, the transient bloom. The phytoplankton aggregates have implication as food resource in the benthic region implying higher fishery potential, in carbon dioxide sequestration (carbon burial) and in efforts towards improving remote sensing algorithms for chlorophyll in the coastal region.
ISSN:0253-4126
0973-774X
DOI:10.1007/s12040-017-0867-2