Composition, productivity and nutrient chemistry of a coastal ocean planktonic food web

Abstract

A 3 year field study was conducted to investigate patterns, magnitude and variability of primary production; the abundance, biomass and composition of producers and consumers; and the relative importance of physical and chemical variables associated with these parameters, in inner shelf waters of the South Atlantic Bight. Discrete interval, time series and continuous measurements were made along a transect and at two process-oriented stations during summer and winter 1985–1988. A quasi-permanent density front constrains low salinity (<34‰) waters to within ca 10 km of the coast. These waters contain abundant autotrophic and heterotrophic communities. Primary production is high, 6–7 × 10 2gC m −2 year −1, and is apparently subsidized by rapid nutrient recycling in the water column, sediments and adjacent salt marshes. Silicate is notable for its excess concentrations year-round and supports substantial diatom productivity. Correlation analyses suggest that Si strongly influences phytoplankton biomass, whereas growth rates are coupled to availability of light and NH 4. Despite evidence of considerable variability in primary production over daily to interannual scales, plankton biomass is relatively constant. Experimental studies suggest a tight coupling between primary producers and microconsumers, and support the hypothesis that substantial fractions of primary and secondary production are recycled within the water column.