Can phytoplankton maintain a positive carbon balance in a turbid, freshwater, tidal estuary
- Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum, Millbrook, NJ (United States)
An analysis of phytoplankton primary production in the tidal freshwater portion of the Hudson River estuary suggests that net primary production is strongly limited by light and mixing regime. In this turbid, well-mixed system, cells spend from 18 to 22 h d[sup [minus]1] below the 1% light level. Autotrophic dark respiration, conservatively estimated at 5% of P[sup b][sub max], is of sufficient magnitude to make positive algal growth impossible over much of the river and much of the year. It is particularly difficult to explain the observed increase in algal biomass during blooms in spring and summer. The authors hypothesize that such blooms can occur only in a small fraction of the river where depth is [approx lt]4 m. 32 refs., 10 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6598468
- Journal Information:
- Limnology and Oceanography; (United States), Journal Name: Limnology and Oceanography; (United States) Vol. 37:8; ISSN LIOCAH; ISSN 0024-3590
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOMASS
CARBON
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ESTUARIES
GROWTH
HUDSON RIVER
MIXING
NONMETALS
PENETRATION DEPTH
PHYTOPLANKTON
PLANKTON
PLANTS
RADIATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESPIRATION
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
VISIBLE RADIATION