The instability of gyrotactically trapped cell layers

• Published in: Journal of fluid mechanics Vol. 868
• Main Authors: Maretvadakethope, Smitha, Keaveny, Eric E., Hwang, Yongyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 10.06.2019
• Subjects: Algae; Cells; Channel flow; Coastal ecology; Computational fluid dynamics; Continuum modeling; Experiments; Flow stability; Gravitational instability; Gravity; Instability; JFM Rapids; Microorganisms; Ocean surface; Oceans; Phytoplankton; Plankton; Stability analysis; Swimming; Thin films; Turbulence; Vorticity; bioconvection

Several metres below the coastal ocean surface there are areas of high ecological activity that contain thin layers of concentrated motile phytoplankton. Gyrotactic trapping has been proposed as a potential mechanism for layer formation of bottom-heavy swimming algae cells, especially in flows where...