Search

Rates of plankton community respiration and chlorophyll a levels were measured in water samples collected at several times of the year in the North Sea, and during July in the English Channel. Planktonic community respiration rates ranged from 0.025 to 0.830-mu-mol O2 l-1 h-1. At low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations (0-5-mu-g l-1) the correlation between algal biomass and community respiration was not significant. However, respiration and chlorophyll a did correlate significantly and positively at chlorophyll a levels in excess of 5-mu-g l-1. This is discussed in terms of the relative contribution to the total community respiration of autotrophs and microheterotrophs. It is argued that at low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations, the microheterotrophs make the most substantial contribution to community respiration rates whilst at exceptionally high concentrations of chlorophyll a autotrophic dark respiration can be the dominant component of the plankton community respiration in the water column. The ratio of respiration to maximum photosynthesis (R/P(max)%) is considered to be a useful indicator of the trophic balance of the plankton community. The range of this ratio varied from 2.2 to 75.9, lowest values being recorded in water masses with high rates of net algal growth.

Rates of plankton community respiration and chlorophyll a levels were measured in water samples collected at several times of the year in the North Sea, and during July in the English Channel. Planktonic community respiration rates ranged from 0.025 to 0.830-mu-mol O2 l-1 h-1. At low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations (0-5-mu-g l-1) the correlation between algal biomass and community respiration was not significant. However, respiration and chlorophyll a did correlate significantly and positively at chlorophyll a levels in excess of 5-mu-g l-1. This is discussed in terms of the relative contribution to the total community respiration of autotrophs and microheterotrophs. It is argued that at low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations, the microheterotrophs make the most substantial contribution to community respiration rates whilst at exceptionally high concentrations of chlorophyll a autotrophic dark respiration can be the dominant component of the plankton community respiration in the water column. The ratio of respiration to maximum photosynthesis (R/P(max)%) is considered to be a useful indicator of the trophic balance of the plankton community. The range of this ratio varied from 2.2 to 75.9, lowest values being recorded in water masses with high rates of net algal growth.

Rates of plankton community respiration and chlorophyll a levels were measured in water samples collected at several times of the year in the North Sea, and during July in the English Channel. Planktonic community respiration rates ranged from 0.025 to 0.830-mu-mol O2 l-1 h-1. At low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations (0-5-mu-g l-1) the correlation between algal biomass and community respiration was not significant. However, respiration and chlorophyll a did correlate significantly and positively at chlorophyll a levels in excess of 5-mu-g l-1. This is discussed in terms of the relative contribution to the total community respiration of autotrophs and microheterotrophs. It is argued that at low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations, the microheterotrophs make the most substantial contribution to community respiration rates whilst at exceptionally high concentrations of chlorophyll a autotrophic dark respiration can be the dominant component of the plankton community respiration in the water column. The ratio of respiration to maximum photosynthesis (R/P(max)%) is considered to be a useful indicator of the trophic balance of the plankton community. The range of this ratio varied from 2.2 to 75.9, lowest values being recorded in water masses with high rates of net algal growth.

Rates of plankton community respiration and chlorophyll a levels were measured in water samples collected at several times of the year in the North Sea, and during July in the English Channel. Planktonic community respiration rates ranged from 0.025 to 0.830-mu-mol O2 l-1 h-1. At low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations (0-5-mu-g l-1) the correlation between algal biomass and community respiration was not significant. However, respiration and chlorophyll a did correlate significantly and positively at chlorophyll a levels in excess of 5-mu-g l-1. This is discussed in terms of the relative contribution to the total community respiration of autotrophs and microheterotrophs. It is argued that at low and moderate chlorophyll a concentrations, the microheterotrophs make the most substantial contribution to community respiration rates whilst at exceptionally high concentrations of chlorophyll a autotrophic dark respiration can be the dominant component of the plankton community respiration in the water column. The ratio of respiration to maximum photosynthesis (R/P(max)%) is considered to be a useful indicator of the trophic balance of the plankton community. The range of this ratio varied from 2.2 to 75.9, lowest values being recorded in water masses with high rates of net algal growth.