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Nutrient and Plankton Ecology of the Columbia River Estuary
Author(s) -
Haertel Lois,
Osterberg Charles,
Curl Herbert,
Park P. Kilho
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1936889
Subject(s) - estuary , phytoplankton , plankton , zooplankton , salinity , abundance (ecology) , ecology , nutrient , environmental science , oceanography , population , biology , geology , demography , sociology
Monthly samples of nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton were taken in the Columbia River estuary over a period of 16 months in order to determine distribution with season and salinity, and interrelationships between plankton and nutrients. Nitrate and phosphate levels in the river water entering the estuary are high in the winter and show depletion during the summer. Silicate levels are high in the river water at all seasons. During the summer up—welling season nitrate and phosphate levels in the entering ocean water are high. Although nutrient levels in the estuary generally show a linear relationship with salinity, nutrients tend to be enriched in the bottom waters of the central part of the estuary. The estuarine phytoplankton is primarily composed of freshwater species, and probably represents a downstream extension of the river flora. Linear regression analysis indicates a strong correlation between phytoplankton abundance and solar radiation. The estuary zooplankton is composed of fresh water, oligohaline and polyhaline forms. Eurytemora affinis, an oligohaline form, is the major zooplankter, reaching population densities of 100,000/m 3 or more. Regression analysis indicates a strong correlation between abundance of freshwater zooplankter and river temperature. Regression analysis indicates close correlation between phosphate levels and Eurytemora abundance. This indicates a strong potential for zooplankton regeneration of phosphate necessary for phytoplankton growth.