Scholten, Yun (2021) On the origin of golden tides in the Caribbean Sea. Master's Thesis / Essay, Marine Biology.
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Abstract
Massive Sargassum beaching has become a reoccurring problem in the Caribbean and other parts of the Atlantic. It has caused extensive ecosystem disturbances and has negatively impacted tourism and local economies. Interestingly, this phenomenon has not been observed in the Caribbean prior to 2011. Therefore, this study has researched what could have been the tipping point in 2011, that caused the almost yearly reoccurring Sargassum inundations in the Caribbean. The onset of Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean in 2011 was most likely initiated in the North Atlantic Equatorial Recirculation Region (NERR) itself. Pelagic Sargassum was already present in the NERR prior to 2011. Due to high growth rates in pelagic Sargassum and optimal and anomalous environmental circumstances in the NERR, Sargassum was able proliferate. Thus, the tipping point for the initiation of massive Sargassum beaching in the Caribbean in 2011 is likely due to a combination of anomalous environmental circumstances. The cooccurrence of extreme warm climate indices and global warming, generated warm sea surface temperatures, calmer waters and enough nutrients for Sargassum to proliferate in the NERR in 2011. The different morphotype Sargassum natans VIII might play a key role in the ability to form large blooms under these anomalous circumstances. Therefore, Sargassum morphotypes and optimum growth factors should be studied extensively in order to better understand the reoccurring phenomenon.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay) |
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| Supervisor name: | Timmermans, K.R. |
| Degree programme: | Marine Biology |
| Thesis type: | Master's Thesis / Essay |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Mar 2021 15:25 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Mar 2021 15:25 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/24035 |
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