Which one of the following results due to the ‘edge effect’ between co

Which one of the following results due to the ‘edge effect’ between cold and warm ocean waters?

Development of dense phyto- planktons rich in diatoms
Decrease in fish population in the area
Decrease in mussel population in the area
Decrease in primary productivity of the area
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UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
The boundary between cold and warm ocean waters (an ‘edge effect’) often results in turbulent mixing or upwelling. This process brings nutrient-rich water from deeper layers to the surface. The increased availability of nutrients in the sunlit surface zone stimulates high primary productivity, leading to dense blooms of phytoplankton, especially diatoms, which are a major component of marine phytoplankton and thrive in nutrient-rich conditions.
– ‘Edge effect’ between distinct water masses (like cold and warm currents) causes mixing and/or upwelling.
– Upwelling brings nutrients from the deep ocean to the surface.
– Increased surface nutrients fuel phytoplankton growth (primary productivity).
– Diatoms are common and abundant phytoplankton in nutrient-rich waters.
Areas of oceanographic fronts and upwellings, like the edge of the Gulf Stream, are often highly productive ecosystems, forming the base of rich food webs that support large fish populations, marine mammals, and seabirds. This explains why many major fisheries are located in areas of upwelling.
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