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The influence of wind-induced mixing on the vertical distribution of buoyant and sinking phytoplankton species

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Abstract

In this study we exploit recent advances in high-resolution autonomous monitoring to investigate the impact of short-term variations in wind-induced mixing on the surface biomass and vertical distribution of buoyant and sinking phytoplankton species. An autonomous platform (the Automatic Water Quality Monitoring Station) moored in a Mediterranean reservoir provided minute-by-minute records of wind speed and the phytoplankton fluorescence during winter and summer. This information was then used here to quantify the impact of short-term changes in the weather on the vertical distribution of diatoms and cyanobacteria. Additionally, we apply an empirical model to determine the extent of entrainment of diatoms and cyanobacteria within the turbulent upper layers of the water column. During winter, the surface time series of fluorescence was positively correlated with the short-term variations in wind speed. In contrast, during the summer, fluorescence was negatively correlated with wind speed. In the latter case, turbulence overcame the flotation velocity of buoyant cyanobacteria, thus homogenizing their vertical distribution and decreasing surface biomass. In both cases, the dynamic response of surface phytoplankton biomass to short-term changes in wind stress was rapid, within the minute scale. As far as we know from the literature, this is the first study in which the interaction between wind stress and surface phytoplankton fluorescence has been quantified on such a fine temporal scale. Finally, relevance for forecasting and reservoir management is pointed out.

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Acknowledgements

This study has been funded by the projects UE-LIFE ENV/UK/000607 Using Automatic Monitoring and Dynamic Modelling for the Active Management of Lakes and Reservoirs and CGL2005-04070 Temporal and spatial patterns in the coupling between hydrodynamics and plankton: The impact of exogenous perturbations in a mesotrophic reservoir (El Gergal, Sevilla). Special thanks are due to Martin Rouen (formerly from CEH Windermere) for designing the AWQMS and providing technical support and Diane Hewitt (now at FBA Windermere) for help with archiving and processing data. Thanks also to Dr. Carmelo Escot (EMASESA), Dr. Joan Armengol (University of Barcelona), and Dr. Rafael Marcé (University of Barcelona) for their constructive comments and help during the work. Finally, we acknowledge the three anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Geology, University of Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, Malaga, 29071, Spain

    Enrique Moreno-Ostos

  2. Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, Ramón y Cajal 4, Granada, 18071, Spain

    Enrique Moreno-Ostos & Luis Cruz-Pizarro

  3. Aquatic Ecology Station, Seville Water Supply Company (EMASESA), C/ Leonardo da Vinci, Seville, 41092, Spain

    Ana Basanta

  4. Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, UK

    D. Glen George

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  1. Enrique Moreno-Ostos
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  2. Luis Cruz-Pizarro
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  4. D. Glen George
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Correspondence to Enrique Moreno-Ostos.

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Moreno-Ostos, E., Cruz-Pizarro, L., Basanta, A. et al. The influence of wind-induced mixing on the vertical distribution of buoyant and sinking phytoplankton species. Aquat Ecol 43, 271–284 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-008-9167-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-008-9167-x

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