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Spatial distribution of phytoplankton cells in small elongated lakes subject to weak diurnal wind forcing

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Abstract

The horizontal distribution of phytoplankton in a medium-size canyon type reservoir, forced by weak winds of 3–4 ms−1, is largely driven by the interaction of the large-scale circulation and processes regulating the vertical distribution of algal cells in the water column. These drivers, in turn, are subject to diurnal variations, making our understanding of the horizontal distribution of phytoplankton a challenging task. A three-dimensional physical-–ecological model is used to understand the spatial distribution of algae and the role of diurnal variations in the physical–biological drivers. The model was used to demonstrate that the large-scale circulation induced during the day is more efficient generating patchiness than the circulation existing at night, when convectively driven turbulence homogenizes the upper layers. Different spatial distributions develop for different populations and under different forcing scenarios, characterized in terms of the directionality of wind forcing, wind magnitude and the lags between winds and diel heat fluxes. The time scales needed so that algal biomass in the surface exhibit significant longitudinal gradients—T P —will vary depending on the algal group, and its ability to regulate its vertical position. These scales are shorter for those species that either migrate actively in the water column or exhibit positive buoyancy (Cryptophytes or Positive buoyant algae). In El Gergal, these scales T P are on the order of a few days. Synoptic changes in the meteorological forcing, like the passing of a front, could potentially change the longitudinal distribution of algal biomass if they persist for periods of time longer than T P .

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Acknowledgments

We thank Maria Perez-Ullen, Miguel Vargas-Gallardo and Manuel Moreno-Payan. Logistical support was provided by the Seville water supply company (EMASESA). The research was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Projects CGL2005-04/070 HID and CGL2008-06101). Thanks to the Centre for Water Research (CWR, University of Western Australia) and its director, Jörg Imberger, for making the Estuary and Lake Computer Model (ELCOM-CAEDYM) available for use in this project. This work has been financially supported in part by both MICINN and the Fulbright Program through Grant #2008-0909.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto del Agua, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain

    Javier Vidal, Anna Rigosi, Andrea Hoyer & Francisco J. Rueda

  2. Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA

    Javier Vidal

  3. Earth Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA

    Javier Vidal

  4. Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain

    Andrea Hoyer & Francisco J. Rueda

  5. Empresa Metropolitana de Abastecimiento y Saneamiento de Aguas de Sevilla, S.A. EMASESA, Sevilla, Spain

    Carmelo Escot

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  1. Javier Vidal
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Correspondence to Javier Vidal.

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Vidal, J., Rigosi, A., Hoyer, A. et al. Spatial distribution of phytoplankton cells in small elongated lakes subject to weak diurnal wind forcing. Aquat Sci 76, 83–99 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-013-0316-5

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