Can small zooplankton mix lakes?

Abstract The idea that living organisms may contribute to turbulence and mixing in lakes and oceans (biomixing) dates to the 1960s, but has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Recent modeling and experimental studies suggest that marine organisms can enhance turbulence as much as winds a...

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Main Authors: S. Simoncelli, S. J. Thackeray, D. J. Wain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-10-01
Series:Limnology and Oceanography Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10047
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author S. Simoncelli
S. J. Thackeray
D. J. Wain
author_facet S. Simoncelli
S. J. Thackeray
D. J. Wain
author_sort S. Simoncelli
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The idea that living organisms may contribute to turbulence and mixing in lakes and oceans (biomixing) dates to the 1960s, but has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Recent modeling and experimental studies suggest that marine organisms can enhance turbulence as much as winds and tides in oceans, with an impact on mixing. However, other studies show opposite and contradictory results, precluding definitive conclusions regarding the potential importance of biomixing. For lakes, only models and lab studies are available. These generally indicate that small zooplankton or passive bodies generate turbulence but different levels of mixing depending on their abundance. Nevertheless, biogenic mixing is a complex problem, which needs to be explored in the field, to overcome limitations arising from numerical models and lab studies, and without altering the behavior of the animals under study.
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spelling doaj.art-ce9e43f7e7a748d3a71450bbf6ad0d182022-12-21T21:43:21ZengWileyLimnology and Oceanography Letters2378-22422017-10-012516717610.1002/lol2.10047Can small zooplankton mix lakes?S. Simoncelli0S. J. Thackeray1D. J. Wain2Department of Architecture and Civil EngineeringUniversity of BathClaverton Down, BathUnited KingdomCentre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreBailrigg, LancasterUnited KingdomDepartment of Architecture and Civil EngineeringUniversity of BathClaverton Down, BathUnited KingdomAbstract The idea that living organisms may contribute to turbulence and mixing in lakes and oceans (biomixing) dates to the 1960s, but has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Recent modeling and experimental studies suggest that marine organisms can enhance turbulence as much as winds and tides in oceans, with an impact on mixing. However, other studies show opposite and contradictory results, precluding definitive conclusions regarding the potential importance of biomixing. For lakes, only models and lab studies are available. These generally indicate that small zooplankton or passive bodies generate turbulence but different levels of mixing depending on their abundance. Nevertheless, biogenic mixing is a complex problem, which needs to be explored in the field, to overcome limitations arising from numerical models and lab studies, and without altering the behavior of the animals under study.https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10047
spellingShingle S. Simoncelli
S. J. Thackeray
D. J. Wain
Can small zooplankton mix lakes?
Limnology and Oceanography Letters
title Can small zooplankton mix lakes?
title_full Can small zooplankton mix lakes?
title_fullStr Can small zooplankton mix lakes?
title_full_unstemmed Can small zooplankton mix lakes?
title_short Can small zooplankton mix lakes?
title_sort can small zooplankton mix lakes
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10047
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