Model Simulation of Diurnal Vertical Migration Patterns of Different-Sized Colonies of Microcystis Employing a Particle Trajectory Approach.

ABSTRACT: Microcystis, a genus of potentially harmful cyanobacteria, is known to proliferate in stratified freshwaters due to its capability to change cell density and regulate buoyancy. In this study, a trajectory model was developed to simulate the cell density change and spatial distribution of Microcystis cells with nonuniform colony sizes. Simulations showed that larger colonies migrate to the near-surface water layer during the night to effectively capture irradiation and become heavy enough to sink during daytime. Smaller-sized colonies instead took a longer time to get to the surface. Simulation of the diurnally varying Microcystis population profile matched the observed pattern in the field when the radii of the multisized colonies were in a beta distribution. This mode

SUBMITTER: Chien YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3636583 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature