Phytoplankton productivity and biomass in the Charlotte Harbor estuarine system, Florida

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Water Resources Bulletin; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1990.tb01413.x· OSTI ID:6098205

McPherson, B F; Montgomery, R T; Emmons, E E ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Tampa, FL (United States) Environmental Quality Lab., Inc., Port Charlotte, FL (United States)

Phytoplankton carbon-14 productivity at a depth of 50 percent of surface light and chlorophyll-a concentrations were measured every other month from November 1985 through September 1986 at 12 stations in the Charlotte Harbor estuarine system. Maximum productivity and chlorophyll-a concentrations occurred during summer or early autumn near the mouths of tidal rivers. Most of the variability in light-normalized productivity and chlorophyll-a could be attributed to two factors derived from Principal Component Analysis of ambient water-quality characteristics. One factor related to seasonal variability and the other to spatial variability. The seasonal factor incorporated the interaction of temperature and nutrients. The spatial factor incorporated the interaction of salinity, nutrients, and water color that resulted from the mixing of freshwater inflow and seawater. Although freshwater inflow increased the availability of nutrients in low salinity waters, the highly colored freshwater restricted light penetration and phytoplankton productivity. Maximum productivity and biomass occurred where color associated with the freshwater inflow had been diluted by seawater so that light and nutrients were both available. Concentrations of inorganic nitrogen were often ar or below detection limit throughout most of the high salinity waters of the estuary and was probably the most critical nutrient in limiting phytoplankton productivity.

• OSTI ID: 6098205
• Journal Information: Water Resources Bulletin; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Bulletin; (United States) Vol. 26:5; ISSN WARBA; ISSN 0043-1370
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540311* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (1990-)
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHLOROPHYLL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISTRIBUTION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ESTUARIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
HARBORS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYTOCHROMES
PHYTOPLANKTON
PIGMENTS
PLANKTON
PORPHYRINS
PRODUCTIVITY
PROTEINS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER QUALITY