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Phytoplankton photosynthetic activity and growth rates in the NW Adriatic Sea

2004; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 20; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/02757540412331294902

1029-0370

Alessandra Pugnetti, Francesco Acri, L. Alberighi, Donato Barletta, Mauro Bastianini, Fabrizio Bernardi Aubry, Andrea Berton, Franco Bianchi, Giorgio Socal, Cecilia Totti,

Marine Biology and Ecology Research

Taxonomic composition, biomass, primary production and growth rates of the phytoplankton community were studied in two stations in the NW Adriatic Sea on a seasonal basis, in areas characterized by differing hydrological and trophic conditions. The main differences between the two stations were quantitative rather than qualitative, most phytoplankton species being common to both stations. The effects of differing nutrient concentrations and plume spreading were evident. Biomass and primary production rates were significantly higher in the coastal station (S1), and the phytoplankton distribution in the water column was markedly stratified in S1 and more even in the offshore station (S3). However, chlorophyll a specific production, potential growth rate and production efficiencies were very similar in both stations, even when phosphorus concentrations were limiting. A discrepancy between potential and actual growth rate was observed: as a feature common to both stations, comparisons between potential and actual growth rates revealed that little carbon produced by phytoplankton accumulated as algal biomass; therefore, very high loss rates were estimated.