The generation of phytoplankton patchiness by mesoscale current patterns |
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| Authors: | Katja Fennel |
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| Institution: | (1) Baltic Sea Research Institute, Warnemünde, Germany, DE |
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| Abstract: | Elken et al. (1994) suggested that phytoplankton patchiness can be generated by mesoscale eddies in light-limited, nutrient-replete
environments. This hypothesis is explored using two ecological models of different physical complexity. The model results
support the idea that the coupling of mesoscale eddy circulation and phytoplankton growth leads to differential growth rates
and thus generates variability in phytoplankton distributions. The specific circulation of a cyclonic eddy isolates a phytoplankton
population in its core. Due to the reduced vertical mixing, a higher growth rate is supported in the core, and phytoplankton
concentrations increase compared to the surrounding environment. A one-dimensional model is used to explore the hypothesis
in general and to perform sensitivity studies. A more realistic simulation uses a coupled three- dimensional model for the
western Baltic Sea. Starting from vertically and horizontally homogeneous distributions for nutrients and plankton, the models
generate patchiness due to the proposed mechanism. The described mechanism may apply for other mesoscale variable environments
during light-limited growth periods as well, e.g., the frontal region of the Southern Ocean.
Received: 31 March 2001 / Accepted: 31 August 2001 |
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| Keywords: | Phytoplankton patchiness Mesoscale eddy Coupled model Spring bloom Baltic Sea |
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