Unexplained interannual oscillations of cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic Sea.

ABSTRACT: Population oscillations in multi-species or even single species systems are well-known but have rarely been detected at the lower trophic levels in marine systems. Nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria are a major component of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and sometimes form huge surface accumulations covering most of the sea surface. By analysing a satellite-derived 39-year (1979-2017) data archive of surface cyanobacteria concentrations we have found evidence of strikingly regular interannual oscillations in cyanobacteria concentrations in the northern Baltic Sea. These oscillations have a period of ~3 years with a high-concentration year generally followed by one or two low-concentration years. Changes in abiotic factors known to influence the growth and survival of cyanobacteria could not provide a

SUBMITTER: Kahru M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5913306 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature