Phytoplankton community growth-rate response to nutrient pulses in a shallow turbid estuary, Galveston Bay, Texas

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dc.acquisition-srcDownloaded from-Web of Scienceen_US
dc.call-noen_US
dc.contract-noen_US
dc.contributor.authorOrnolfsdottir EBen_US
dc.contributor.authorLumsden SEen_US
dc.contributor.authorPinckney JLen_US
dc.contributor.otherJournal of Plankton Researchen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-02-15T17:16:51Z
dc.date.available2010-02-15T17:16:51Z
dc.date.issued2004 Maren_US
dc.degreeen_US
dc.description325-339en_US
dc.description-otheren_US
dc.description.abstractPhytoplankton growth is a physiological process often limited by temperature, nutrients or light, while biomass accumulation is a function of growth rates, grazing and deposition. Although primary productivity measurements are usually used to assess responses to limiting factors, the rates are proportional to biomass and inversely related to grazing pressure during experimental incubations. Alternatively, carbon-specific growth-rate determinations provide insights into physiological responses without the confounding effects of biomass and grazing. The objective of this study was to quantify the growth-rate responses of phytoplankton to enhanced nutrient availability (nitrate and phosphate) over a range of in situ irradiances. Growth rates were determined based on chlorophyll a-specific C-14-uptake rates by phytoplankton. Phytoplankton demonstrated high (24 h) growth rates when exposed to increased concentrations of limiting nutrients, independent of the surface irradiances (12-41%). Growth-rate responses were also compared with the biomass (chlorophyll a) responses and community composition. Observed and estimated phytoplankton biomass changes during the incubations differed, emphasizing the structural role of grazers on the phytoplankton community. The phytoplankton community in Galveston Bay has the potential to instantaneously respond to nutrient pulses, facilitating diatom biomass accumulations in spring and summer and small, flagellated species and cyanobacteria during periods of low nutrient inputs. Thus, Galveston Bay phytoplankton biomass and community composition reflect a dynamic balance between the frequency of nutrient pulsing and grazing intensityen_US
dc.description.urihttp://gbic.tamug.edu/request.htmen_US
dc.historyen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23411
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dc.locationen_US
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dc.notesTimes Cited: 0ArticleEnglishOrnolfsdottir, E. BNatl Ocean Serv, Ctr Coastal Fisheries & Habitat Res, NOAA, 101 Pivers Isl Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516 USACited References Count: 70802RAGREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLANDOXFORDen_US
dc.placeen_US
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dc.relation.ispartofseries51059.00en_US
dc.relation.urien_US
dc.scaleen_US
dc.seriesen_US
dc.subjectSAN-FRANCISCO BAYen_US
dc.subjectCHESAPEAKE BAYen_US
dc.subjectCHLOROPHYLL-Aen_US
dc.subjectPHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTSen_US
dc.subjectMARINE-PHYTOPLANKTONen_US
dc.subjectBLOOM DYNAMICSen_US
dc.subjectNORTH-CAROLINAen_US
dc.subjectCARBON BIOMASSen_US
dc.subjectRIVER ESTUARYen_US
dc.subjectLIMITATIONen_US
dc.titlePhytoplankton community growth-rate response to nutrient pulses in a shallow turbid estuary, Galveston Bay, Texasen_US
dc.typeJournalen_US
dc.universityen_US
dc.vol-issue26(3)en_US

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