Stability analysis of thermo-bioconvection in suspensions of gravitactic microorganisms in a fluid layer

In this paper, we investigate the effect of heating or cooling from below on the stability of a suspension of motile gravitactic microorganisms in a shallow fluid layer. The linear perturbation theory is used to obtain the stability diagram and the critical conditions for the onset of convection. It is found that the thermo-effects may either stabilize or destabilize the suspension, and decrease or increase the wavelength of the bioconvective pattern. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.