Enhanced chlorophyll a and primary production in the northern Arabian Sea during the spring intermonsoon due to green Noctiluca scintillans bloom
Madhu, N.V.; Jyothibabu, R.; Maheswaran, P.A.; Jayaraj, K.A.; Achuthankutty, C.T. (2012). Enhanced chlorophyll a and primary production in the northern Arabian Sea during the spring intermonsoon due to green Noctiluca scintillans bloom. Mar. Biol. Res. 8(2): 182-188. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2011.605143
In: Marine Biology Research. Taylor & Francis: Oslo; Basingstoke. ISSN 1745-1000; e-ISSN 1745-1019, more
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| Keywords |
Algal blooms
Organic compounds > Carbohydrates > Glycosides > Pigments > Photosynthetic pigments > Chlorophylls
Noctiluca scintillans (Macartney) Kofoid & Swezy, 1921 [WoRMS]; Pedinomonas noctilucae (R.Subrahmanyan) B.M.Sweeney, 1976 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Madhu, N.V.
- Jyothibabu, R.
- Maheswaran, P.A.
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- Jayaraj, K.A.
- Achuthankutty, C.T., more
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| Abstract |
The surface waters of the northeastern Arabian Sea sustained relatively high chlorophyll a (average 0.81±0.80 mg m–3) and primary production (average 29.5±23.6 mgC m–3 d–1) during the early spring intermonsoon 2000. This was caused primarily by a thick algal bloom spread over a vast area between 17–21°N and 66–70°E. Satellite images showed exceptionally high concentration of chlorophyll a in the bloom area, representing the annually occurring ‘spring blooms’ during February–March. The causative organism of the bloom was the dinoflagellate, Noctiluca scintillans (Dinophyceae: Noctilucidea), symbiotically associated with an autotrophic prasinophyte Pedinomonas noctilucae. The symbiosis between N. scintillans and P. noctilucae is most likely responsible for their explosive growth (average 3 million cells l–1) over an extensive area, making the northeastern Arabian Sea highly productive (average 607±338 mgC m–2 d–1) even during an oligotrophic period such as spring intermonsoon. |
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