Relevance: The blooms of Noctiluca Scintillans are being witnessed along the coasts of Chennai recently.
About Noctiluca Scintillans
- They are nonparasitic, marine dwelling species of dinoflagellate which exhibits bioluminescence when disturbed and they can exhibit high concentrations due to abundance of planktons which they feed.
- Factors affecting algal bloom:
- Adequate nutrients brought by substantial rain and a high abundance of the planktons (called diatoms.)
- Probable environmental cues – Low wind speed, lowering of atmospheric temperature, high rain and low sea surface temperature are cited as .
- Local hydrodynamics and the diverging currents governed the presence and dispersion of the sudden outbreak of the algal bloom.
Threats:
- The phenomenon is an indicator of climate change. (doubt)
- The excreta of these slow-moving larger blooms accumulate toxic levels of ammonia in surrounding waters cause massive fish and marine invertebrate kills.
- The displacement of diatoms has deprived food for plankton eating fishes.
Reference: The Hindu
