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Temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton in a subtropical ecosystem 1, 2
Author(s) -
Bienfang P. K.,
Szyper J. P.,
Okamoto M. Y.,
Noda E. K.
Publication year - 1984
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.1984.29.3.0527
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , spatial variability , photic zone , environmental science , nutrient , chlorophyll a , nitrate , subtropics , biomass (ecology) , productivity , oceanography , atmospheric sciences , biology , ecology , geology , botany , statistics , mathematics , macroeconomics , economics
Phytoplankton conditions were examined at two stations off the leeward coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Significant temporal variability was observed in the chlorophyll and pheopigment data. Significant temporal and spatial variability was observed in the ATP and productivity data. Most (60–80%) of the microbial biomass occurred in the <3‐ µ m fraction. Pigment profiles showed distinct subsurface maxima at 90 m. Annual primary production was estimated at 60.4 g C·m ‒2 ·yr ‒1 , and low nutrient levels and P : B ratios indicated persistent nutrient limitation. Dissimilar inflection depths for nitrate, phosphate, and silicate indicated nitrate availability and phosphate limitation in the lower photic zone. Production between January and May was 11 × that between May and November; productivity below 44 m accounted for most of this variation. Biological and physical analyses indicate that variations in vertical nutrient supply, related to differences in current shear, caused this temporal variation.