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Simulation study of phytoplankton photosynthesis and growth in the Fraser River estuary

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Abstract

Phytoplankton photosynthesis was estimated by a simulation model of the Fraser River estuary (Canada). For this estimation, two kinds of information were considered; (1) the photosynthetic response of phytoplankton taken from the estuary to each environmental factor; (2) actual measurement of changes in each environmental factor in the estuary. As the major limiting factors, light intensity, temperature, and nitrate were taken into account. Variations in these parameters were combined together under the assumption of the “law of the minimum”; that is, only one of the environmental factors was considered to limit photosynthesis at any given time and place. From the results obtained, it could be shown which environmental factors actually limited phytoplankton photosynthesis in the Fraser River estuary at different times of the year and at different depths.

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Author notes

  1. M. Takahashi

    Present address: Institute of Oceanography, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Oceanography, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    T. R. Parsons

  2. Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    K. Fujii

Authors
  1. M. Takahashi
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  2. K. Fujii
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  3. T. R. Parsons
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Communicated by T. R. Parsons, Vancouver

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Takahashi, M., Fujii, K. & Parsons, T.R. Simulation study of phytoplankton photosynthesis and growth in the Fraser River estuary. Marine Biology 19, 102–116 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353581

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