Nutrients and phytoplankton primary production in the marine tidal Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands)
Vegter, F.; de Visscher, P.R.M. (1987). Nutrients and phytoplankton primary production in the marine tidal Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands). Hydrobiol. Bull. 21(2): 149-158
In: Hydrobiological Bulletin. Netherlands Hydrobiological Society: Amsterdam. ISSN 0165-1404; e-ISSN 2214-708X, more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton
Chemical compounds > Nitrogen compounds > Ammonia
Chemical compounds > Nitrogen compounds > Nitrates
Chemical compounds > Phosphorus compounds > Phosphates
Chemical compounds > Silicon compounds > Silicates
Chlorophylls
Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle > Nutrient cycles
Extinction
Nitrogen
Primary production
Properties > Physical properties > Optical properties > Extinction coefficient
Reduction
Water bodies > Coastal waters > Coastal landforms > Coastal inlets > Estuaries
Marine/Coastal; Brackish water |
| Authors | | Top |
- Vegter, F.
- de Visscher, P.R.M.
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| Abstract |
In a shallow marine tidal area, the eastern part of Oosterschelde estuary in the S.W. Netherlands, phytoplankton primary production amounted to 176-338 g C.m-2.y-1 during the period 1981-1985. The influence of nutrient concentrations on the phytoplankton primary production is discussed. Phosphate and inorganic nitrogen generally were amply available. Import of inorganic nitrogen into the basin was shown and an intense delivery of ammonia by zoobenthos was suggested. Nitrate was considered to be slightly influenced by phytoplankton consumption and mainly by nitrate reduction at the bottom. Silicate may have played a limiting role in phytoplankton primary production. The first phytoplankton bloom in spring (diatom bloom) always terminated when silicate concentration decreased below Ks values. Further on in 1983 and 1984 both primary production and chlorophyll curves showed a dip when silicate was not available.The influence of available light on the primary production was demonstrated during situations with a low extinction coefficient when primary production reached maximum values. Further on during 1985 the spring bloom occurred already in March when winter extinction coefficients were lower than during preceding winters.Long term production studies are necessary to understand the extreme fluctuations of annual production patterns in relation to the prevailing environmental conditions. |
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