What causes plankton patchiness?

In the zooplankton, swimming behavior and other forms of adjustments of water depth are the major causes of patchiness. Because of regular daily migrations (to be discussed in the following section), many zooplankton groups are aggregated as they move up and down.

What does patchiness mean?

the quality of only existing or happening in some parts or situations: The problem is the patchiness of the data. the quality of being sometimes good and sometimes bad: The beauty of the staging cannot make up for the patchiness of the writing.

What does patchiness mean in ecology?

However, some differences between ecological dynamics in nature and their representations in mean field models probably result from modes of ecological interaction—specifically, ecological dynamics involving causes and consequences of fine-scale spatial and temporal heterogeneity, or patchiness—that are ‘assumed away’ …

What defines plankton?

Noun. microscopic organism that lives in the ocean and can convert light energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis. plankton. Plural Noun. (singular: plankton) microscopic aquatic organisms.

What does patches mean in biology?

A habitat patch is any discrete area with a definite shape, spatial and configuration used by a species for breeding or obtaining other resources. Mosaics are the patterns within landscapes that are composed of smaller elements, such as individual forest stands, shrubland patches, highways, farms, or towns.

Why is my skin getting patchy?

Irregular or patchy discoloration of the skin can be caused by: Changes in melanin, a substance produced in the skin cells that gives skin its color. Growth of bacteria or other organisms on the skin.

What is meant by the term ecological succession?

Ecological succession is the process that describes how the structure of a biological community (that is, an interacting group of various species in a desert, forest, grassland, marine environment, and so on) changes over time. The structure of this community becomes more complex as new species arrive on the scene.

What are 3 types of plankton?

The three most important types of phytoplankton are:

Diatoms. These consist of single cells enclosed in silica (glass) cases.
Dinoflagellates. This name refers to two whip-like attachments (flagella) used for forward movement.
Desmids. These freshwater photosynthesisers are closely related to green seaweeds.

What does patchy skin look like?

Patchy skin color is areas where the skin color is irregular with lighter or darker areas. Mottling or mottled skin refers to blood vessel changes in the skin that cause a patchy appearance.

What causes the patchiness of plankton in the ocean?

The recurring patchiness patterns show a direct connection to external stimuli, notably ocean turbulence and vertical shear. Biological interactions, particularly pre-predator in a food web, have also shown impacts on the generation of plankton patchiness.

How big are the patches on a plankton?

Both the patch size and the production show large variances across ensembles of integrations initialized randomly but with the same mean.

Which is the most salient characteristic of plankton populations?

Patchiness is perhaps the most salient characteristic of plankton populations in the ocean. The scale of this heterogeneity spans many orders of magnitude in its spatial extent, ranging from planetary down to microscale (Figure 1 ).

What is the role of patchiness in the ocean?

Plankton patchiness plays a critical role in the functioning of ocean ecosystems. Advanced techniques allow us observing and collecting patchiness data from individual species to community and from micro- to meso-scale. The recurring patchiness patterns show a direct connection to external stimuli, notably ocean turbulence and vertical shear.

What causes plankton patchiness? In the zooplankton, swimming behavior and other forms of adjustments of water depth are the major causes of patchiness. Because of regular daily migrations (to be discussed in the following section), many zooplankton groups are aggregated as they move up and down. What does patchiness mean? the quality of only existing…