Role of tychoplanctic cyanobacteria in bloom dynamics

Determine the ecological and physical role of tychoplanctic cyanobacteria—organisms that usually dwell on submerged surfaces but eventually aggregate, detach, and rise to the water surface—in the development and progression of cyanobacterial blooms, including how aggregation, detachment, and flotation contribute to bloom initiation and surface colonization.

Background

The paper discusses harmful cyanobacterial blooms and notes that blooms often develop when submerged populations reach a critical density, after which filaments aggregate and rise to the surface. Within this context, the contribution of tychoplanctic species—typically benthic organisms that can aggregate and float—has not been clearly established.

Clarifying the role of tychoplanctic cyanobacteria is important for understanding bloom initiation and dynamics, predicting ecological impacts, and informing mitigation strategies under changing environmental conditions.