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Journal of Plankton Research, Vol 21, 231-245, Copyright © 1999 by Oxford University Press

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Spatial variability of the photosynthetic parameters and biomass of the Gulf of California phytoplankton

G Gaxiola-Castro, S Alvarez-Borrego, M Lavin, A Zirino and S Najera-Martinez
Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educcion Superior de Ensenada, Division de Oceanologia, Kilometro 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico; Naval Ocean System Center, San Diego, CA, USA; Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanologicas, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Spatial variability of the central Gulf of California (CGC) phytoplankton biomass and photosynthetic parameters in relation to physical forcing was studied. Sampling was carried out in November, and the surface TC range was 20-27.5°C. Strong tidal mixing in the midrift islands regions injects relatively cool, nutrient-rich waters to the euphotic zone. Some of this water is transported via jets and cool filaments throughout the Gulf. In general, chlorophyll a (Chl) of small phytoplankton (<8 m) (up to >2.5 mg m-3) was higher than that of large phytoplankton. Highest values of phytoplankton assimilation numbers (PBm) [3.17 mg C (mg Chla)-1 h-1], and photosynthetic efficiency B) [0.23 mg C (mg Chl a)-1 h-1 (W m-2)-1] were determined for the large phytoplankton cells (>8 m). Our hypothesis that PBm values increase from cooler to warmer waters is not supported by the data. We found a 27-fold spatial difference of Chl, compared with a 10-fold difference of PBm and a 6-fold difference of B. Thus, in our study area, the major source of variability for primary productivity (PP) comes from Chl, and not from PBm and B. Therefore, we propose that it is possible to estimate late-fall PP for the CGC using average photosynthetic parameters. Average values for PBm and B of total phytoplankton were 0.72 mg c (mg Chl a)-1 h-1 and 0.12 mg C (mg Chl a-1 h-1, (W m-2)-1, with standard errors of 0.07 and 0.03, respectively.
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