Primary production, light and vertical mixing in Potter Cove, a shallow bay in the maritime Antarctic
Schloss, I.R.; Ferreyra, G.A. (2002). Primary production, light and vertical mixing in Potter Cove, a shallow bay in the maritime Antarctic. Polar Biol. 25(1): 41-48. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s003000100309
In: Polar Biology. Springer-Verlag: Berlin; Heidelberg. ISSN 0722-4060; e-ISSN 1432-2056, more
Related to:Schloss, I.R.; Ferreyra, G.A. (2002). Primary production, light and vertical mixing in Potter Cove, a shallow bay in the maritime Antarctic, in: Arntz, W.E. et al. (Ed.) Ecological studies in the Antarctic sea ice zone: results of EASIZ Midterm Symposium. pp. 117-124, more
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| Keywords |
Attenuation > Light attenuation
Biological production > Primary production
Chemical reactions > Photochemical reactions > Photosynthesis
Turbulence
Water mixing > Vertical mixing
PSW, Antarctica, South Shetland I., King George I., Potter Cove [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Schloss, I.R.
- Ferreyra, G.A.
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| Abstract |
Phytoplankton photosynthesis was measured during spring-summer 1991-1992 in the inner and outer part of the shallow Potter Cove, King George Island. Strong winds characterise this area. Wind-induced turbulent mixing was quantified by means of the root-mean square expected vertical displacement depth of cells in the water column, Zt. The light attenuation coefficient was used as a measure of the influence of the large amount of terrigenous particles usually present in the water column; 1% light penetration ranged between 30 and 9 m, and between 30 and 15 m for the inner and outer cove, respectively. Obvious differences between photosynthetic capacity [P*max; averages 2.6 and 0.6 µg C (µg chlorophyll-a)-1h-1] and photosynthetic efficiency {α*; 0.073 and 0.0018 µg C (µg chlorophyll-a)-1h-1 [(µmol m-2 s-1)-1]} values were obtained for both sites during low mixing conditions (Zt from 10 to 20 m), while no differences were found for high mixing situations (Zt>20 m). This suggests different photoacclimation of phytoplankton responses, induced by modifications of the light field, which in turn are controlled by physical forcing. Our results suggest that although in experimental work P*max can be high, wind-induced mixing and low irradiance will prevent profuse phytoplankton development in the area. |
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