Microphytobenthos contribution to nutrient-phytoplankton dynamics in a shallow coastal lagoon

摘要: Nutrient fluxes and primary production were examined in Lake Illawarra (New South Wales, Australia), a shallow (Zmean=1.9 m) coastal lagoon with surface area of 35 km2, by intensive measurement dissolved nutrients oxygen profiles over 22-h period. Rates nutrient uptake calculated for the microphytobenthos, seagrass beds, macroalgae, pelagic phytoplankton. Although gross release rates to water column sediment pore waters potentially high, microphytobenthos rapidly sequesters re-mineralized so that net releases, averaged times longer than day, low. Production was closely coupled relatively low detrital decomposition column. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen silica concentrations are drawn down at beginning day. The system did not appear be light limited photosynthesis occurs as fast become available phytoplankton microphytobenthos. We conjecture dominant producers and, has been shown previously, phase various stages diatom growth.