Elongation enhances encounter rates between phytoplankton in turbulence
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2022-08-09
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Abstract
Phytoplankton come in a stunning variety of shapes but elongated morphologies dominate-typically 50% of species have aspect ratio above 5, and bloom-forming species often form chains whose aspect ratios can exceed 100. How elongation affects encounter rates between phytoplankton in turbulence has remained unknown, yet encounters control the formation of marine snow in the ocean. Here, we present simulations of encounters among elongated phytoplankton in turbulence, showing that encounter rates between neutrally buoyant elongated cells are up to 10-fold higher than for spherical cells and even higher when cells sink. Consequently, we predict that elongation can significantly speed up the formation of marine snow compared to spherical cells.This unexpectedly large effect of morphology in driving encounter rates among plankton provides a potential mechanistic explanation for the rapid clearance of many phytoplankton blooms.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Volume
119 (32)
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
encounter rates; turbulence; cell elongation; marine snow; phytoplankton blooms
Organisational unit
09467 - Stocker, Roman / Stocker, Roman