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Title: Spatial distribution of motile phytoplankton in a stratified reservoir: the physical controls on patch formation Authored by: Alexander, R. and Imberger, J. Abstract:
The spatial distribution of the dinoflagellate Ceratium hirundinella was measured with a fluorescence profiler in San Roque reservoir, Argentina, over a period of days. The field transects showed significant heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of the dinoflagellate throughout the study. The mechanism responsible for patch formation was found to be two-stage process that was identified from the field data with assistance from a numerical model. In calm conditions, the distribution of the dinoflagellate was determined by its migration in the surface layer. More commonly, wind driven advection dominated the system and caused water from the surface layer to accumulate the dinoflagellate at the downwind boundary of the reservoir. The persistence of patchiness in the reservoir was notable and the reasons for this longevity were identified. The study confirmed the hypothesis that physical controls determined the phytoplankton patch formation, together with critical input from the dinoflagellate's vertical migration.
Reference: Alexander, R. and Imberger, J., 2008, Spatial distribution of motile phytoplankton in a stratified reservoir: the physical controls on patch formation, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbn101 Keywords: San Roque |
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