Plankton crash

Plankton Crash caused by Noctiluca scintillans led to the sea in Puducherry turning red last year.

About the recent change:

• This change was caused by the phytoplankton releasing colored pigment from their cells, which adhered to rocks and the sea floor, forming a biofilm-like layer and causing ‘red tides.’

About the plankton crash:

• A plankton crash refers to the phenomenon where a plankton bloom is replaced by a few surviving plankton, potentially leading to the formation of stable foam on the water’s surface due to the decay of dead plankton.
• The causes of a plankton crash include a lack of nutrients or CO2 early in the production cycle or a sudden change in water quality that can result in plankton death later in the cycle.

Ref:Source