By Sarah Hannan
The presumed green dye patch which was deposited on the seabed from Panadura to Chilaw was found to be a phytoplankton that has the scientific label Navicula sp., and is recorded to be one of the most common types of phytoplankton.
The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) on Tuesday (1) collected samples of the said dye patch – as the fishermen called it – and took it to their labs for testing.
“The preliminary observations indicate that this is a phytoplankton better known as diatom algae. Further studies are now underway to understand what caused the algae to occur in this particular beach stretch,” NARA Environmental Studies Division Principal Scientist K.A.W. Shyamali Weerasekara explained.
Weerasekara reiterated that the algae had no adverse effects on humans that would have come into contact with it or the aquaculture in the surrounding area.
Initially, fishermen speculated that the slimy substance would be of great harm to them and the area’s aquaculture; they also speculated that the substance originated from a capsized barge close to the shore on the Western seas that hadn’t been moved for nearly two weeks.
As explained by Weerasekara, it is now clear that the boat-shaped diatom is an indispensable food source for zooplankton and many other organisms higher up on the food chain.
The Navicula sp. genus comprises more than 1,200 different species that all have a similar shape. With new species of Navicula still being discovered, it was in 2015 that two new species were found off the French and Flemish coast.
Diatoms are protected from predators by a sort of “glass house” around their cell, which acts like strong armour made of silicic acid. The armour's skeleton is made of two glass bowls that fit together like a box and its lid. Navicula is known for its unique method of locomotion.
There is a slit all the way around its glass armour which has slimy strands protruding from it. These strands grasp the underlying surface and allow Navicula to pull itself ahead, functioning very similarly to the threads on a tank.Discolouration at Western seas caused by diatom algae
04 Sep 2020
Discolouration at Western seas caused by diatom algae
04 Sep 2020
By Sarah Hannan
The presumed green dye patch which was deposited on the seabed from Panadura to Chilaw was found to be a phytoplankton that has the scientific label Navicula sp., and is recorded to be one of the most common types of phytoplankton.
The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) on Tuesday (1) collected samples of the said dye patch – as the fishermen called it – and took it to their labs for testing.
“The preliminary observations indicate that this is a phytoplankton better known as diatom algae. Further studies are now underway to understand what caused the algae to occur in this particular beach stretch,” NARA Environmental Studies Division Principal Scientist K.A.W. Shyamali Weerasekara explained.
Weerasekara reiterated that the algae had no adverse effects on humans that would have come into contact with it or the aquaculture in the surrounding area.
Initially, fishermen speculated that the slimy substance would be of great harm to them and the area’s aquaculture; they also speculated that the substance originated from a capsized barge close to the shore on the Western seas that hadn’t been moved for nearly two weeks.
As explained by Weerasekara, it is now clear that the boat-shaped diatom is an indispensable food source for zooplankton and many other organisms higher up on the food chain.
The Navicula sp. genus comprises more than 1,200 different species that all have a similar shape. With new species of Navicula still being discovered, it was in 2015 that two new species were found off the French and Flemish coast.
Diatoms are protected from predators by a sort of “glass house” around their cell, which acts like strong armour made of silicic acid. The armour's skeleton is made of two glass bowls that fit together like a box and its lid. Navicula is known for its unique method of locomotion.
There is a slit all the way around its glass armour which has slimy strands protruding from it. These strands grasp the underlying surface and allow Navicula to pull itself ahead, functioning very similarly to the threads on a tank.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!