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PHYTOPLANKTON IN LAKE TAHOE: DEEP‐LIVING POPULATIONS 1
Author(s) -
Kiefer Dale A.,
HolmHansen Osmund,
Goldman Charles R.,
Richards Robert,
Berman Thomas
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1972.17.3.0418
Subject(s) - photic zone , phytoplankton , standing crop , environmental science , oceanography , biomass (ecology) , algae , limiting , new production , nutrient , ecology , geology , biology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Most of the phytoplankton biomass in Lake Tahoe is located below the euphotic zone. Algae from deep water (100–400 m) appear healthy and fix CO 2 at significant rates when exposed to near‐surface illumination. The relationship between the distributions of phytoplankton standing crop and production is best explained by passive sinking of cells out of the euphotic zone and accumulation in deep waters. This recruitment of deep phytoplankton from surface waters may be an important feature of deep oligotrophic lakes, limiting primary production and nutrient regeneration in the euphotic zone.