Seasonality of the bloom-forming heterotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans in the Gulf of Oman in relation to environmental conditions

Adnan Al-Azri*, Khalid Al-Hashmi, Joaquim Goes, Helga Gomes, Ahmed I. Rushdi, Harub Al-Habsi, Salem Al-Khusaibi, Raya Al-Kindi, Nasser Al-Azri

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Gulf of Oman is a semi-enclosed Gulf under the influence of the Arabian Gulf in the North, the Arabian Sea in the south, and experiences the reversal of the seasonal monsoons. Despite the increase in fish mortality during recent years, there are few short- term studies investigating the causative agents for such effects. Previous studies have occasionally linked the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans to fish kill in the Gulf of Oman. In order to understand the mechanistic processes that are involved in the bloom formation of Noctiluca scintillans, hydrographic, biological and meteorological parameters have been investigated at two stations, the Fahal Island (F) and the Offshore (OFF) in the coastal water of Muscat from July 2005 to February 2006. The preliminary results suggest that Noctiluca scintillans abundance in the Gulf of Oman persists throughout the year but at different depths with bloom formation starting from early winter and reach a maximum during the spring period. The bloom formation is likely attributed to changes in hydrographic and biological factors and their spatial distribution is due to wind intensity and direction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)51-60
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Oceans and Oceanography
Volume2
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Fish kill
  • Gulf of Oman
  • Noctiluca scintillans

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Pollution

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