Physical flow effects can dictate plankton population dynamics

Oceanic flows do not necessarily mix plankton. Differences between organisms' physical properties can cause them to drift apart due to hydrodynamics and inertia, leading to segregation of species. This separation can allow rapid growth of phytoplankton free from grazing by zooplankton, yielding dramatically increased concentrations, called a plankton bloom. We find that, across a large range of parameter values, fluid flow can drive plankton blooms and population dynamics distinct from those predicted for well-mixed systems. This may impact our understanding of the initiation and development of harmful algal blooms (HABs), which have significant negative ecological and socio-economic consequences.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2019.0247