Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Modeling Algae Self-Replenishment, V. S. Manoranjan, Miguel A. Olmos Gomez, R. Corban Harwood

Faculty Publications - Department of Mathematics

This paper presents a sunlight-dependent algae growth model. Driven by the circumstances surrounding Lake Chapala, Mexico, this theoretical model is an endeavor to understand the resilient sustainability of algae that threatens the area’s ecosystem. In this paper, free-floating algae (phytoplankton) are treated as two distinct populations according to their location in the body of water: the vibrant sunlit upper region and the stagnate lower region where photosynthesis is not possible. The numerical solution for the model is analyzed and results are discussed in light of previous studies and the state of Lake Chapala.