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- Title
Factors Determining the Location of the Chlorophyll Maximum and the Fate of Algal Production within the Tidal Freshwater James River.
- Authors
Bukaveckas, Paul; Barry, Laura; Beckwith, Matthew; David, Valerie; Lederer, Brent
- Abstract
Longitudinal variation in factors affecting phytoplankton production were analyzed to better understand the mechanisms that cause the formation of a chlorophyll maximum within the tidal freshwater James River. Phytoplankton production was two- to threefold higher in the region where persistent elevated chlorophyll concentrations occurred. Near this site, the morphology of the James transitions from a narrow, deep channel to a broad expanse with shallow areas adjoining the main channel. Shallower depths resulted in greater average irradiance within the water column and suggest that release from light limitation was the principal factor accounting for the location of the chlorophyll maximum. Grazing rates were low indicating that little of the algal production was directly consumed by zooplankton. Low exploitation by zooplankton was attributed to poor food quality due to high concentrations of non-algal particulate matter and potential presence of cyanobacteria. Metabolism data suggest that two thirds of net primary production was respired in the vicinity of the chlorophyll maximum and one third was exported via fluvial and tidal advection. Comparison of water column and ecosystem metabolism indicates that the bulk of respiration occurred within the sediments and that sedimentation was the dominant loss process for phytoplankton.
- Subjects
JAMES River (Va.); CHESAPEAKE Bay (Md. &; Va.); MARYLAND; VIRGINIA; CHLOROPHYLL; ALGAE products; TIDE-waters
- Publication
Estuaries & Coasts, 2011, Vol 34, Issue 3, p569
- ISSN
1559-2723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12237-010-9372-4