Study of Parameters of Biological Rhythms of Plankton Communities in Natural Conditions

Abstract

The change in the intensity of bioluminescence fields in the coastal area of the western shelf of the Crimea in the dark time of day was discussed. It is noted, that the biomass of luminous organisms closely correlate with the biomass of plankton and other pelagic creatures, including commercial pelagic fish. The parameters of the basic biological rhythms of plankton communities are found using method of Fourier series. These rhythms leads to change of intensity of the bioluminescence field. It is shown, that the change of the intensity of bioluminescence field with a 14 hours period due to duration of photo- and dark- periods. Changes in the intensity of the bioluminescence fields with periods of 4.7 and 2.8 hours due to endogenous circadian rhythms of plankton community. An original method for evaluation of errors of periods found of biological rhythms was proposed. The correlation coefficient between measured and calculated values of the intensity of the bioluminescence fields was estimated, taking into account the influence of three main biological rhythms, was r = 0.906, that confirms the correctness of the assumptions made.