ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Seasonal Patterns in Phytoplankton
and Zooplankton across the North
of Gulf of Oman: A Numerical Study
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2
Institute of Geophysics, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
3
Academic Relations and International Affairs Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran
Submission date: 2023-06-06
Final revision date: 2023-10-18
Acceptance date: 2023-11-16
Online publication date: 2024-02-28
Publication date: 2024-04-09
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(3):3381-3396
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Climate change significantly impacts marine ecosystems, affecting zooplankton and phytoplankton
dynamics, crucial components of the pelagic food web. This study utilizes the Regional Ocean
Modeling System (ROMS) coupled with a nitrogen-based nutrient, phytoplankton, zooplankton,
and detritus (NPZD) model to investigate plankton seasonal patterns in the North of the Gulf of Oman,
a region undergoing ecological alterations due to environmental and anthropogenic factors. The model,
validated against satellite-derived GMIS chlorophyll-a data from 2008-2009, reveals peak chlorophyll-a
concentrations in late winter and early spring, with a reduction in summer due to the presence
of a seasonal thermocline layer. The findings underscore the pivotal role of zooplankton grazing
in modulating phytoplankton biomass and highlight the intertwined influence of physical and biological
processes on plankton seasonality, offering insights into the ecological dynamics of the Oman Sea
in the context of climate change.