The dynamics of temperature and light on the growth of phytoplankton

- Analytical and numerical results are obtained for a nutrient phytoplankton model.
- Ecological reproductive index is proposed to establish threshold criteria and depict global dynamic.
- Effect of temperature, light, nutrient, and abiotic variations is fully expounded.
- Lab studies are presented to assess model performance and adaptability.
- Dynamics of the model and model predictions agree well with experimental data.

Motivated by some lab and field observations of the hump shaped effects of water temperature and light on the growth of phytoplankton, a bottom-up nutrient phytoplankton model, which incorporates the combined effects of temperature and light, is proposed and analyzed to explore the dynamics of phytoplankton bloom. The population growth model reasonably captures such observed dynamics qualitatively. An ecological reproductive index is defined to characterize the growth of the phytoplankton which also allows a comprehensive analysis of the role of temperature and light on the growth and reproductive characteristics of phytoplankton in general. The model provides a framework to study the mechanisms of phytoplankton dynamics in shallow lake and may even be employed to study the controlled phytoplankton bloom.