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Development of Productivity Models for the Northern Gulf of Mexico Based on Oxygen Concentrations and Stable Isotopes

Development of Productivity Models for the Northern Gulf of Mexico Based on Oxygen Concentrations... Oxygen concentrations have been used for decades to estimate primary production (P) and respiration (R) in aquatic ecosystems. Yet, this approach cannot separate the effects of biological and physical processes affecting oxygen dynamics; therefore, it is now often complemented with the analysis of stable oxygen isotopes. Existing algorithms for calculating primary production and P/R have been developed for closed systems and steady-state open systems. None of these formulations are applicable to productive aquatic ecosystems where diurnal changes in oxygen concentrations and isotope values are usually large. Here, we describe a novel P/R model that includes algorithms for air–sea gas exchange and is not constrained by steady-state conditions. Our objective was to test model sensitivity to variations in input parameters for values commonly observed in coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The model was highly sensitive to variations in fractionation factor for respiration (ε) but less sensitive to variations in wind speed, oxygen isotope values of source-water, or oxygen flux through the picnocline. This model is easily transferable to other coastal ecosystems, with a caveat that system-specific values for ε are needed to obtain realistic estimates of P/R. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Estuaries and Coasts Springer Journals

Development of Productivity Models for the Northern Gulf of Mexico Based on Oxygen Concentrations and Stable Isotopes

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References (43)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 by Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation
Subject
Environment; Nature Conservation ; Environmental Management ; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Earth Sciences, general; Ecology; Environment, general
ISSN
1559-2723
eISSN
1559-2731
DOI
10.1007/s12237-009-9144-1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Oxygen concentrations have been used for decades to estimate primary production (P) and respiration (R) in aquatic ecosystems. Yet, this approach cannot separate the effects of biological and physical processes affecting oxygen dynamics; therefore, it is now often complemented with the analysis of stable oxygen isotopes. Existing algorithms for calculating primary production and P/R have been developed for closed systems and steady-state open systems. None of these formulations are applicable to productive aquatic ecosystems where diurnal changes in oxygen concentrations and isotope values are usually large. Here, we describe a novel P/R model that includes algorithms for air–sea gas exchange and is not constrained by steady-state conditions. Our objective was to test model sensitivity to variations in input parameters for values commonly observed in coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The model was highly sensitive to variations in fractionation factor for respiration (ε) but less sensitive to variations in wind speed, oxygen isotope values of source-water, or oxygen flux through the picnocline. This model is easily transferable to other coastal ecosystems, with a caveat that system-specific values for ε are needed to obtain realistic estimates of P/R.

Journal

Estuaries and CoastsSpringer Journals

Published: Feb 25, 2009

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