Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4498456 Journal of Theoretical Biology 2008 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

We propose a model for explaining both red tides and recurring phytoplankton blooms. Three assumptions are made, namely the presence of toxin producing phytoplankton, the satiation phenomenon in zooplankton's feeding, modelled by a Holling type II response, and phytoplankton aggregation leading to formation of patches. The dynamics of the plankton population is shown to depend on the fraction of the phytoplankton population that aggregates to form colonies and on the number of the latter.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Agricultural and Biological Sciences Agricultural and Biological Sciences (General)
Authors
, , ,