Phytoplankton mucilage production in coastal waters: a dispersal mechanismin a front dominated system?

I hypothesise that mucilage production by phytoplankton blooms in coastal w aters serves as a dispersal mechanism allowing the transport of cells betwe en different patches of the coastal sea. Cells trapped in mucilaginous foam s floating on the sea surface are lofted into the air; resulting in lateral dispersal by winds. Mucilage production by phytoplankton is associated with nutrient limitation and monospecific blooms. Under conditions of nutrient limitation, wind dis persal provides a mechanism tb carry the genes of a clonal bloom to areas w here growth and replication may continue. In coastal seas, frontal systems form a barrier to lateral movement through the water column; however, the a ccumulation of mucilage on the surface at fronts provides a mechanism by wh ich wind born transfer may occur. This hypothesis provides a functional exp lanation for mucilaginous blooms and describes an elaboration of a dispersa l mechanism proposed by HAMILTON & LENTON (1998).