The phytoplankton component of seston in San Francisco Bay

Netherlands Journal of Sea Research
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Abstract

Phytoplankton biomass (as carbon) was estimated from chlorophyll a concentrations (Chla) and a mean value for the ratio of phytoplankton carbon to chlorophyll a in San Francisco Bay. The ratio was determined as the slope of a Model II regression of POC' against (Chla), where POC' is total particulate organic carbon minus sediment-associated non-phytoplankton carbon. Samples from 30 fixed sites in the channel and lateral shoals of San Francisco Bay were collected once or twice a month from April to November 1980, and at irregular intervals in South Bay during 1984 and 1985. For all data the calculated mean value of phytoplankton C:Chla was 51 (95% confidence interval = 47–54). No significant differences were found in the C:Chla ratio between shallow and deep sites (where light availability differs) or between northern and southern San Francisco Bay (where phytoplankton community composition differs). Using the mean C:Chla ratio of 51, we calculated that phytoplankton biomass constitutes about one third of seston carbon under most circumstances, but this fraction ranges from about 95% during phytoplankton blooms to less than 20% during spring periods of low phytoplankton biomass and high suspended sediment concentration.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The phytoplankton component of seston in San Francisco Bay
Series title Netherlands Journal of Sea Research
DOI 10.1016/0077-7579(87)90020-2
Volume 21
Issue 1
Year Published 1987
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) California Water Science Center, San Francisco Bay-Delta, Pacific Regional Director's Office
Description 9 p.
First page 25
Last page 33
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial San Francisco Bay
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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