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Quantum yield estimates of phytoplankton on the Grand Banks for use in production models
Author(s) -
Prasad K. S.,
Hollibaugh J. T.
Publication year - 1992
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.1992.37.6.1271
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , water column , photosynthetically active radiation , quantum yield , seasonality , plankton , environmental science , photosynthesis , saturation (graph theory) , atmospheric sciences , yield (engineering) , oceanography , botany , ecology , physics , biology , geology , nutrient , mathematics , quantum mechanics , combinatorics , fluorescence , thermodynamics
Seasonal estimates of water‐column quantum yield ( ϕ c ) for carbon fixation have been computed for continental shelf waters off Newfoundland. Mean values of ϕ c showed a two‐sixfold variation from spring through summer. A shift in distribution of normalized quantum yield (i.e. ϕ c / ϕ max ) toward lower values in the upper 20 m suggested the frequent occurrence of light saturation. The estimated specific absorption coefficient for phytoplankton ( a ph Chl −1 ) also varied seasonally. Net plankton had a lower specific absorption (spring) than the nanoplankton which dominate the postbloom season (summer‐fall) on the Grand Banks. A good correlation between surface incident photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and ϕ c / ϕ max allows a reasonable prediction of mean water‐column quantum yield ϕ ̄ c . Seasonal estimates of ϕ ̄ c and which essentially parameterize the light‐harvesting and photosynthetic capabilities of phytoplankton, could be used to refine satellite production models based on remote sensing.