Succession Of Phytoplankton Functional Groups Research Articles

Factors Influencing the Variation in Phytoplankton Functional Groups in Fuchunjiang Reservoir

To explore the distribution characteristics, blooming risk mechanism and driving factors of phytoplankton community structure in Fuchunjiang Reservoir. The variation characteristics of phytoplankton, zooplankton and physicochemical indicators in Fuchunjiang Reservoir and its upper and lower reaches were investigated in 2020 and 2021. Based on the phytoplankton functional groups, non-metric multidimensional scale analysis, redundancy analysis and other statistical methods, the seasonal succession characteristics and driving factors of phytoplankton functional groups were analyzed. A total of 18 phytoplankton functional groups were identified, in of which 10 were predominant. The composition of phytoplankton functional groups in the Fuchunjiang Reservoir was significant different. Spatially, the upstream were dominated by group C and P while the represent species were Cyclotella and Aulacoseira,reflecting the mixed meso-eutrophic environments. However, group P was the main group in Fuchunjiang reservoir, and the dominance decreased gradually along the stream direction. Meanwhile, in the downstream, MP has an absolute advantage at Qiantang River estuary. It reflected the environmental characteristics of frequent disturbance and high turbidity of tide-sensing rivers. In addition, the predominant functional groups demonstrated strong seasonal variations. The dominant functional groups were diverse in summer and consisted of P+L0+J+M+S1+H1+MP. In addition to group P (Aulacoseira), which was dominant throughout the year, it also included several groups represented by cyanobacteria and chlorophyta, reflecting the environmental characteristics of changeable habitats and vigorous productivity. In autumn, the succession was dominated by H1 group represented by Dolichospermum and the representative function groups were P and H1, reflecting the hydrological background of reduced flow and static flow. In winter, the increase of Cyclotella led to the predominance of group C, which was dominated by P+C, reflecting the changing conditions of weakened water exchange and intensified eutrophication problems. In spring, the dominant functional groups were gradually enriched and were composed of C, D, P, and MP, which also reflected the changing environmental habitat characteristics which caused by increasing rainfall and air temperature. According to the results of the C-R-S growth strategy, the Fuchunjiang Reservoir has been in the R strategy for a long time, which was consistent with the habitat characteristics of Fuchunjiang Reservoir and its upper and lower reaches with high disturbance and low stress. In addition, C strategy and S strategy appeared in some reaches, reflecting the variability of water quality and hydrology. RDA analysis showed that water temperature, discharge, zooplankton biomass, permanganate index, total nitrogen and total phosphorus were significantly correlated with the seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups (P < 0.05), and temperature and flow pattern were probably the most critical factors for the succession. Studies have shown that the impact of hydrometeorological processes on phytoplankton in the Fuchunjiang Reservoir is crucial:high temperature and changing discharge during the summer may lead to cyanobacterial blooms in the Fuchunjiang reservoir; To reduce the risk of algal blooms, it is still necessary to increase the control of nitrogen and phosphorus load in rivers, and fully consider the coordination of water conservancy dispatch methods.

The key environmental factors driving the succession of phytoplankton functional groups in Hongfeng Reservoir, southwest China

The key environmental factors driving the succession of phytoplankton functional groups in Hongfeng Reservoir, southwest China

Factors affecting the seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups in a tropical floodplain reservoir in Vietnam

Abstract Phytoplankton communities can be classified into different groups based on physiological, morphological, and ecological functions. In this study, the responses of phytoplankton functional groups (PFGs) to physicochemical variables and hydraulic regimes were investigated and used as ecological indicators in the Tri An Reservoir (TAR), a eutrophic tropical floodplain reservoir located in southern Vietnam. Altogether, 148 phytoplankton taxa were identified and assigned to 16 PFGs; the four predominant PFG groups were M (Microcystis spp.), MP (filamentous cyanobacteria: Oscillatoria spp., and some other diatoms: Gomphonema angustatum, Navicula sp.), J (green algae: Coelastrum spp., Cosmarium spp., Pediastrum spp., Scenedesmus spp., Staurastrum spp., Tetradesmus spp., Tetraëdron spp., and Xanthidium spp.), and P (Closterium spp., Aulacoseira granulata, Fragilaria spp., Pinnularia spp., and Desmidium baileyi). The average PFG biovolume ranged from 79.6 ± 20.2 to 230.1 ± 69.1 mg/L with M being the dominant group. The trophic state index (TSI) indicated that the water condition was light-eutrophic to hyper-eutrophic. It was found that the large water level fluctuation resulted in seasonal nutrient dynamics, with higher nutrient concentrations and higher turbidity during the low water level period and vice versa. The redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the nutrient concentrations, water level fluctuation, and mixing regimes were critical factors in the PFG selection in the TAR. Therefore, we assumed that water level fluctuation management coupled with biological competition have the potential to control toxic cyanobacteria in the TAR. In conclusion, the PFGs are suitable for examining the effects of environmental conditions on phytoplankton dynamics in tropical floodplain reservoirs, but their sensitivity to long-term changes in water quality and eutrophication requires further investigation.

Water column stability driving the succession of phytoplankton functional groups in karst hydroelectric reservoirs

Hydrological conditions are a critical factor for phytoplankton ecology in hydroelectric reservoirs, and how this factor contributes to the succession of phytoplankton functional groups is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the phytoplankton functional groups, relative water column stability, and related environmental factors in the Wujiang cascade reservoirs to understand this process. Altogether five phyla and thirteen functional groups were identified, and they showed evident variations across space and time. The B, D, P, and J groups were dominant, and the Lo and X1 groups existed only in the reservoirs. Relative water column stability rather than nutrient availability affects the succession and distribution of phytoplankton functional groups in the study area, and high relative water column stability usually increases phytoplankton biomass. This indicates that hydrologic conditions are an important factor controlling phytoplankton composition in hydroelectric reservoirs, and this study enriches the understanding of reservoir phytoplankton ecology.

Succession of phytoplankton functional groups and driving variables in a young canyon reservoir

Reservoir eutrophication is a global problem that needs to be urgently solved, and exploring phytoplankton dynamics in young reservoirs is extremely important for artificial intervention during the process of eutrophication. However, the succession of phytoplankton communities and their responses to environmental variables in young canyon reservoirs remain obscure. Therefore, phytoplankton functional group data were collected from a young canyon reservoir for 2 years, and the succession pattern and its response to environmental variables were simultaneously evaluated. The results revealed significant spatial differences and rapid interannual changes in some environmental variables (water temperature, suspended solids) in the young canyon reservoir. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed that phytoplankton functional group structure differed obviously among the zones of the reservoir, while significant interannual succession (from the Lo and Y groups to the X2 group) occurred in the lacustrine zone. Additionally, redundancy analysis demonstrated that the structure of phytoplankton functional groups varied significantly between the spatially different environments. Finally, the succession of phytoplankton functional groups in the lacustrine zone was mainly driven by increases in nutrients and water temperature. The rules underlying and dominant mechanism driving short-term succession in the young canyon reservoir revealed in this study may provide a deeper understanding of the intervention mechanisms that could be implemented to alleviate reservoir eutrophication.

Seasonal Succession of Phytoplankton Functional Groups and Driving Factors of Cyanobacterial Blooms in a Subtropical Reservoir in South China

Freshwater phytoplankton communities can be classified into a variety of functional groups that are based on physiological, morphological, and ecological characteristics. This classification method was used to study the temporal and spatial changes in the phytoplankton communities of Gaozhou Reservoir, which is a large municipal water source in South China. Between January 2015 and December 2017, a total of 155 taxa of phytoplankton that belong to seven phyla were identified. The phytoplankton communities were classified into 28 functional groups, nine of which were considered to be representative functional groups (relative biomass > 10%). Phytoplankton species richness was greater in the summer and autumn than in the winter and spring; cyanobacterial blooms occurred in the spring. The seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups was characterized by the occurrence of functional groups P (Staurastrum sp. and Closterium acerosum) and Y (Cryptomonas ovata and Cryptomonas erosa) in the winter and spring, and functional groups NA (Cosmarium sp. and Staurodesmus sp.) and P (Staurastrum sp. and Closterium acerosum) in the summer and autumn. The temperature, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels were the main factors driving seasonal changes in the phytoplankton communities of Gaozhou Reservoir. The functional group M (Microcystis aeruginosa) dominated the community during the cyanobacterial blooms in spring 2016, with the maximum algal cell density of 3.12 × 108 cells L−1. Relatively low temperature (20.8 °C), high concentrations of phosphorus (0.080–0.110 mg L−1), suitable hydrological and hydrodynamic conditions (e.g., relatively long retention time), and relatively closed geographic location in the reservoir were the key factors that stimulated the cyanobacterial blooms during the early stages.

Succession of phytoplankton functional groups in Macau’s two shallow urban border reservoirs under multiple changing factors

The community diversity of phytoplankton is quite high, and hundreds of phytoplankton species can coexist. Aggregating phytoplankton species into different phytoplankton functional groups (PFGs) can better assess and predict the potential structural and functional effects of aquatic ecosystems. The continuous interaction of key PFGs is the key cause of cyanobacterial blooms in drinking water supply systems, especially in shallow border reservoirs, but the reasons have not been understood. This study was carried out in Macau’s two shallow border reservoirs, the Main Storage Reservoir (MSR) and Sai Pa Van Reservoir (SPVR). Then, phytoplankton samples from these reservoirs were collected monthly over a four-year period (from January 2011 to December 2014) to reveal key factors driving PFGs succession and their synthetic effects on the dominant species. The trophic state index (TSI) of TN and TP of the two reservoirs ranged from 36.25 to 83.95 and 8.32–56.13, respectively, indicating that the SPVR and MSR were between a eutrophic and hypereutrophic state. The phytoplankton analysis results showed that there were 14 dominant PFGs and 8 dominant PFGs in the MSR and SPVR, respectively. The group S1 was always predominant in the SPVR during the succession of PFGs, while the succession of PFGs in the MSR were quite different, the PFGs could mainly be summarized as S1/SN/X1 (2011) → X1/J/B/TB/P (2012, 2013) →S1/X1/J (2014). In addition, redundancy analysis (RDA) through stepwise discriminant analysis was used to analyze the dominant PFGs and abiotic factors in both reservoirs. The results indicated that the turbidity value of the reservoir was the key factor influencing groups S1, Lo and SN in the SPVR. However, the different PFGs were influenced by the turbidity, NH3–N, NO3–N and EC values of the reservoir in the MSR. The relationship between PFGs and environmental factors was described by stepwise regression analysis. The investigation of the different ecological responses between the interconnected reservoirs was useful for targeted water source protection.

Phytoplankton functional groups succession and their driving factors in a shallow subtropical lake

The succession of phytoplankton functional groups and environmental variables were investigated from January to December 2018 in a shallow subtropical lake, East Taihu Lake, located in the Yangtze Delta of China. Altogether, 125 genera, 21 functional groups, and 7 predominant functional groups, D (Fragilaria acus, Synedra acus, and Nitzschia spp.), P (Fragilaria capucina and Aulacoseira granulate), MP (Oscillatoria spp., Diploneis ovalis, Gomphonema angustatum, Nitzschia palea, and Achnanthes spp.), Y (Cryptomonas ovata, Cryptomonas erosa, Chroomonas acuta, and Ceratium spp.), H2 (Anabaena spp.), M (Microcystis spp.), and W1 (Euglenoids spp.), were identified, and these predominant functional groups exhibited strong seasonal variations. Groups Y and W1 dominated from winter to spring when temperature and light were low. The external pollution load and high levels of nutrients entered the lake in June, allowing group M to become dominant, even ultimately triggering Microcystis blooming. Meanwhile, the abundance of aquatic plants in summer, combined with high levels of transparency and light availability, resulted in Group M being replaced by Group P and then Groups M and H2 rebounding in autumn. The redundancy analysis revealed that water temperature, nutrients, and light availability (Zeu/Zmix) were the key factors promoting phytoplankton succession. The ecological assessment results demonstrated a good ecological status based on the assemblage index (Q average = 3.0). This work emphasizes the fact that temperature, nutrients, and light were the driving factors for phytoplankton dynamics, and aquatic plants and external pollution were important external factors for the succession of phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton functional groups in a monomictic reservoir: seasonal succession, ecological preferences, and relationships with environmental variables.

The seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups (PFGs), their ecological preferences, relationships between environmental variables and PFGs, and ecological status were investigated in the Batman Dam Reservoir, a warm monomictic reservoir, located in the Tigris River basin of Turkey. Altogether 60 species, 19 functional groups, and 10 prevailing functional groups were identified, and prevailing functional groups showed strong seasonal changes. Centric diatoms Cyclotella ocellata (group B) and Aulacoseira granulata (group P) were dominant in the spring, with water mixing and low temperature. Groups F (Elakatothrix gelatinosa, Elakatothrix gelatinosa, and Sphaerocystis schroeteri), J (Pediastrum simplex and Coelastrum reticulatum), G (Eudorina elegans and Volvox aureus), LM (Ceratium and Microcystis), and H1 (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Anabaena spiroides) dominated the phytoplankton community from summer to mid-autumn, with thermal stratification. Groups H1 and P became dominant in the late autumn, with the breakdown of stratification. With the deepening of the mixing zone, groups P and T (Mougeotia sp.) were dominant in the winter. The reservoir was meso-eutrophic according to trophic state index values based on total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll a, Secchi depth and total nitrogen, habitat preferences of PFGs, and diversity indices of phytoplankton. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that NO3-N, SiO2, TP, pH, and water temperature (WT) were the most important environmental factors controlling PFGs in the BDR. Weighted averaging regression results indicated that among PFGs, groups F and T had a narrower tolerance range for WT, pH, and SiO2, while groups G and T had a narrower tolerance range for TP and NO3-N.

Phytoplankton functional groups response to environmental parameters in Muling River basin of northeast China

The present study was carried out in the biggest tributary of Ussuri River of boundary between China and Russia. The Muling River basin has undergone a long-term dredging works, and waterbody became seriously turbid. The succession of phytoplankton functional groups succession and environmental factors in the river were sampled in 2015. We totally identified 83 species, belonging to 17 functional groups which 5 were predominant, including group F, M, MP, P and Y. The seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups was M/P-F/MP/P-MP/P. Results of Spearman correlation analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that phytoplankton functional groups were mainly influenced by nutrient concentrations and light availability including total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+–N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−–N), N:P ratio (N:P), water depth (D) and transparency (SD) in the basin.

Seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups in Lake Fuxian and its driving factors

The concept of phytoplankton functional groups was proposed based on data from numerous European lakes and has been widely used in lakes, reservoirs, rivers worldwide. However, the application of this concept to subtropical plateau lakes has rarely been reported. In this study, 16 sampling sites were selected across the entirety of Lake Fuxian, Yunnan, China. Eighteen phytoplankton functional groups (F, G, J, X2, X1,T, P, MP, D, C, H1, LO, S1, M, Y, E, W1 and W2) were classified according to the investigation of surface water and gradient depth samples. Nine of these groups, namely LO, H1, C, MP, P, T, X1, J and F, were identified as dominant species (>5% total biomass). Furthermore, LO, H1 and T were considered predominant (accounting for the maximum percentage of biomass in each month). The sampling showed that the seasonal succession of predominant assemblages in surface water was T (October) to H1 (January) to H1 (April) to Lo (July) and T+Lo (October) to T (January) to H1 (April) to Lo (July) in the gradient depth water. Redundancy analysis (RDA) combined with the indicator function of the phytoplankton groups suggested that WT and TN/TP were important factors in driving the succession of predominant assemblages all year around.

Seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups in a reservoir in central China

Seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups in a reservoir in central China

Seasonal Succession of Phytoplankton Functional Groups and Their Driving Factors in the Siminghu Reservoir

The succession of phytoplankton communities is affected by pure environmental factors as well as the interaction of various factors. Phytoplankton communities with eleven aquatic abiotic factors and four biotic factors were investigated in the Siminghu Reservoir, and the seasonal succession of phytoplankton FGs related to the biotic and abiotic factors was analyzed. The results suggested that a total of 22 phytoplankton functional groups were identified across the samples, and they were all affiliated with Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta. An obvious seasonal succession was discovered by NMDS, which were present as D+Lo in summer, D+P+Lo in autumn and winter, and X2+P+MP in spring. In particular, we screened 10 functional groups with biomass significantly associated with the seasonal change in the phytoplankton community. A variance partitioning analysis (VPA) revealed that water temperature-zooplankton covariation and water temperature explained the variation in the phytoplankton functional groups throughout the year. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that water temperature, transparency, nitrate nitrogen, and the biomass of zooplankton were the most critical factors determining the community dynamics of phytoplankton.

Succession of phytoplankton functional groups and their driving factors in a subtropical plateau lake

The present study was carried out in a mesotrophic subtropical plateau lake, Erhai, located in southwest of China. The succession of phytoplankton functional groups and the environmental variables in the lake were investigated from January 2013 to December 2015. The lake had strong radiation levels and a low-temperature amplitude because of its high elevation and strongly mixed water. It was highly affected by the subtropical monsoon precipitation, and its pollution sources were from diffuse pollution caused by rainfall runoff. Altogether 112 genera, 16 functional groups and 4 predominant functional groups, LM (Microcystis), P (Melosira, Fragilaria, Closterium), T (Mougeotia), T (Psephonema aenigmaticum) and Y (Cryptomonas), were identified, and the predominant functional groups demonstrated strong seasonal variations. Group T (Mougeotia) dominated from the winter to early spring, with strong lake water mixing. Group P replaced group T (Mougeotia) as the dominate group of the phytoplankton community in the spring (March to May), with clear water and increased temperature. With the arrival of the monsoon rainy season in the summer, large amounts of external pollutants were brought into the lake via rainfall runoff, allowing group LM (Microcystis) to become dominant. Meanwhile, the intensive nutrient inputs after the rainstorm in the summer, combined with high temperatures and decreased radiation, led to the sustained growth of group LM in the autumn and even ultimately triggered Microcystis blooming. Group T (P. aenigmaticum) was a particular phytoplankton genus predominant in the autumn, which displayed a seasonal variation similar to that of group LM. This study underscores the usefulness of phytoplankton functional groups in studying phytoplankton succession in subtropical plateau lakes impacted by diffuse pollution, in which the succession of phytoplankton functional groups can be significantly affected by rainfall runoff, which altered variables such as nutrients, high temperatures and radiation.

Succession of phytoplankton functional groups from spring to early summer in the central Bohai Sea using HPLC–CHEMTAX approaches

Phytoplankton is a key component in the functioning of marine ecosystems, phytoplankton community structures are very sensitive to their environment. This study was conducted in the central Bohai Sea in the spring and early summer of 2015. Spatial variations in phytoplankton functional groups were examined through high-performance liquid chromatography pigment–CHEMTAX analysis. Results suggested that the phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a [Chl a]) in spring was mainly derived from the diatom community and was 3.5-fold higher than that in the summer. Meanwhile, the phytoplankton in the early summer sustained more diverse marker pigments than that in the spring. Despite the overwhelming predominance of microsized phytoplankton in the spring, some smaller phytoplankton (pico- or nanosized), including flagellates, such as prasinophytes, chlorophytes, and cryptophytes, highly contributed to the total Chl a in the summer. Various physico-chemical variables were recorded, and their correlations with phytoplankton density were established by redundancy analysis. Temperature, water stratification, nutrient availability, and even nutritive proportion influenced the succession of phytoplankton functional groups from diatom dominance in the spring to flagellate (mainly haptophytes and prasinophytes) dominance in the early summer. In conclusion, our work comprehensively evaluated the phytoplankton diversity and dynamics in the central Bohai Sea and suggests the need for long-term monitoring for further investigation.

Spatial heterogeneity and seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups along the vertical gradient in a mesotrophic reservoir

Tracking morphological variability of phytoplankton is a useful tool to better understand environmental changes. Highly dynamic systems such as reservoirs are convenient environments to investigate the effects of environmental variables on phytoplankton morphology. However, to fully understand the effects of mixing and trophic state on phytoplankton functional group (FG) distribution, the entire water column must be considered since integrated or sub-superficially collected samples, may not adequately represent phytoplankton structure. This idea was tested by analyzing vertical profiles of phytoplankton FGs, their relative biomass, physical and chemical parameters, through monthly samplings over a 2 years period, at three stations located along the longitudinal axis in the monomictic, mesotrophic Ikizcetepeler reservoir, northwestern part of Turkey. Thermal stratification occurred in the reservoir from April to September, and z mix /z eu values increased after the breaking down of the thermocline. Nine FGs characterized the seasonal cycle and C-strategist organisms were typical representatives of the assemblages. Nutrient availability and temperature were found to influence phytoplankton dynamics, whereas water withdrawal played a secondary role. Groups Y , P , B , J , F , Lo and Tc showed heterogeneous distribution along the water column and, temperature heterogeneity, high DIN values in surface waters, z mix /z eu values and sedimentation loss were the most important factors regulating their distribution. The results show that phytoplankton morphological spectrum throughout the entire water column, contributes useful information to assess the influence of mixing and trophic state on phytoplankton dynamics in mesotrophic reservoirs.

淮南采煤塌陷湖泊浮游植物功能群的季节演替及其驱动因子

淮南采煤塌陷湖泊浮游植物功能群的季节演替及其驱动因子

Succession of phytoplankton functional groups regulated by monsoonal hydrology in a large canyon-shaped reservoir

Liuxihe reservoir is a deep, monomictic, oligo-mesotrophic canyon-reservoir in the subtropical monsoon climate region of southern China. Phytoplankton functional groups in the reservoir were investigated and a comparison made between the succession observed in 2008, an exceptionally wet year, and 2009, an average year. The reservoir shows strong annual fluctuations in water level caused by monsoon rains and artificial drawdown. Altogether 28 functional groups of phytoplankton were identified, including 79 genera. Twelve of the groups were analyzed in detail using redundancy analysis. Because of the oligo-mesotrophic and P-limited condition of the reservoir, the dominant functional groups were those tolerant of nutrient (phosphorus) deficiency. The predominant functional groups in the succession process were Groups A ( Cyclotella with greatest axial linear dimension < 10 μm), B ( Cyclotella with greatest axial linear dimension >10 μm), L O ( Peridinium), L M ( Ceratium and Microcystis), E ( Dinobryon and Mallomonas), F ( Botryococcus), X 1 ( Ankistrodesmus, Ankyra, Chlorella and Monoraphidium) and X 2 ( Chlamydomonas and Chroomonas). The development of groups A, B and L O was remarkably seasonal. Group A was dominant during stratification, when characteristic small size and high surface/volume ratio morphology conferred an advantage. Group L O was dominant during dry stratification, when motility was advantageous. Group B plankton exhibited a high relative biomass during periods of reduced euphotic depth and isothermy. Groups L M , E, F, X 1 and X 2 occasionally exhibited high relative biomasses attributable to specific environmental events (e.g. drawdown, changes in zooplankton community). A greater diversity of phytoplankton functional groups was apparent during isothermy. This study underscores the usefulness of functional algal groups in studying succession in subtropical impoundments, in which phytoplankton succession can be significantly affected by external factors such as monsoonal hydrology and artificial drawdown, which alter variables such as retention time, mixing regime and thermal structure and influence light and nutrient availability.

Carbon cycling in the upper waters of the Sargasso Sea: I. Numerical simulation of differential carbon and nitrogen fluxes

A complex ecosystem model is developed for the area around Bermuda in the Sargasso Sea. The model is physically driven by seasonal changes in spectral light, temperature, and water column mixing. Autotrophic growth is represented by four functional groups of phytoplankton. The groups have light and nutrient utilization characteristics that reflect those of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and Chromophycota species. The model includes differential carbon and nitrogen cycling, nitrification, and nitrogen fixation to effect realistic allochthonous and autochthonous nutrient sources to the euphotic zone. This simulation yields realistic seasonal and vertical (1) succession of phytoplankton functional groups’ biomass, productivity, and pigments; (2) profiles of dissolved inorganic carbon, nitrate, and ammonium; and (3) fluxes of carbon dioxide at the air–sea boundary and particulate carbon and nitrogen settling losses, when compared to the JGOFS BATS site. The addition of local nitrification, differential carbon and nitrogen remineralization, and nitrogen fixation removes the need for an unrealistically high upward vertical flux of nitrate to mimic the productivity and chlorophyll a stocks. The explicit numerical description of carbon and nitrogen utilization by heterotrophic bacteria simulated a population that was not nitrogen-limited in these waters. Instead, the heterotrophic bacteria community was limited by energy resources in the form of DOC, and was a nitrogen source for the autotrophic community through the excretion of excess NH 4 from the labile DOM energy source. Numerical descriptions of ecosystems based solely on nitrogen dynamics, or fixed carbon to nitrogen ratios, may yield an inaccurate prediction of carbon and nitrogen fluxes, and fail to properly predict the carbon cycle.