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Phytoplankton Production In The Delaware Estuary: Temporal And Spatial Variation., Jonathan Pennock

School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering

ABSTRACT:

Phytoplankton production in the Delaware Estuary (USA) was measured over several seasonal cycles (1980-1985). Seasonal variability in daily area1 production (JP; g C m-2 d-l) was dlrectly related to chlorophyll concentrations in the upper estuary, ranging from a maximum of 1.1 g C m-' d-' In summer to a minlmum of d-l) dunng summer in the presence of low phytoplankton biomass (2 to 10 kg Chl I-'), and in mid-estuary [2.6 g C d-l) during the spring diatom bloom (50 to 60 yg Chll-l). Desplte the occurrence of maximum nutnent concentrations in the freshwater region, highest JP and 90 …