Abstract:

While net primary production measured using carbon-14 bicarbonate incorporation is common, the bulk values provide no significant information on which phytoplankton are most important to productivity. Although methods exist for taxon-specific productivity, these are usually laborious and costly. Filtering different size fractions as carbon-14 incubations are terminated, is a widely used strategy to provide information on the distribution of production among large (>5 μm) and small (<5 μm) phytoplankton. Such information is useful for biogeochemical modelers who typically divide phytoplankton into groups based on size.

Suggested Citation:

Krause, Jeffrey W,; Acton, Sydney. 2017. Size-fractioned primary productivity on the Mississippi-Alabama Shelf in Fall 2015. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7668B83

Publications:

Dzwonkowski, B., Greer, A. T., Briseño-Avena, C., Krause, J. W., Soto, I. M., Hernandez, F. J., … Graham, W. M. (2017). Estuarine influence on biogeochemical properties of the Alabama shelf during the fall season. Continental Shelf Research, 140, 96–109. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2017.05.001

Purpose:

Rates of biological productivity were determined through a consortia partnership with the Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience (ACER) and Consortium for Oil Spill Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems (CONCORDE). The shared goal for each consortium was to understand the spatial and temporal variability in biological productivity rates. This information is critical for providing baseline information to understanding the potential effects of anthropogenic (e.g. oil spill) or natural (e.g. hurricane) disturbances on biological productivity in the Mississippi-Alabama shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Data Parameters and Units:

Cruise Name Event Number (YYYYMMDDHHHH, GMT) Local Time (HHHH) Operation Type (Activity) Station Name Latitude, Degrees North (integer) Latitude, decimal minutes Longitude, Degrees West (integer) Longitude, decimal minutes Bottom Depth, meters Target Depth, meters Hydrocast #, sequential number Dissolved inorganic carbon, μmol L-1 >5 μm Primary Production, mg C m-3 d-1 <5 μm Primary Production, mg C m-3 d-1

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