Sedimentation loss of phytoplankton cells from the mixed layer: effects of turbulence levels |
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Authors: | Ruiz Javier; Garcia Carlos M; Rodriguez Jaime |
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Institution: | Departamento de Biología y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Cádiz Apartado, núm. 40, E-11510 Puerto Real (Cádiz)
1Departamento de Geología y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga Campus Teatinos, E-29071 Málaga, Spain |
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Abstract: | In this paper, we describe a study of the role of turbulencein the loss by sedimentation of phytoplankton cells from themixed layer. The approach presented allows the quantificationof the sedimentation rate of phytoplankton in the whole rangeof turbulence levels of this layer. Two types of phytoplanktercan be distinguished according to the effect that turbulencecan exert on their sedimentation rate. The rate of those cellswhose settling velocity is lower than 1 m day1will not be modified by turbulence. The sedimentation rate ofcells with higher settling velocities can, however, be modifiedby the level of turbulence. A set of dimensionless numbers isgiven to delimit several processes that are important in thedynamics of phytoplankton sedimentation in a turbulent regime.The use of these dimensionless numbers suggests that an increasein the turbulence level in the mixed layer does not always implya decrease in the sedimentation rate of phytoplankton cells. |
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