Abstract
The use of efficiency factors in primary productivity studies is discussed. A coefficient kb is defined which measures the contribution of photosynthetic processes to the total optical attenuation coefficient. It is shown that to a first order approximation, kb at any depth is given by the ratio of the primary production to the incident radiation at that depth, when both are expressed in calories. Values of kb are calculated for two stations in St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia. At any depth, kb depends linearly on the chlorophyll concentration at that depth. Errors involved in measuring kb are discussed and suggestions made for increasing precision. It is suggested that kb could be used as an index to compare the primary productivity of waters and that the regression of kb on the chlorophyll concentration could be used as a predictive tool in primary production research.
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