Primary Production

Production: Formation of Organic Matter Autotrophic Organisms (Plants, algae and some bacteria) –Photosynthesis –Chemosynthesis CO 2 + Electron Donor + energy  CH 2 O + other Heterotrophic Organisms (most bacteria and animals) RESPIRATION (Autotrophs & Heterotrophs) CH 2 O + O 2  CO 2 + H 2 O + Energy (ATP)

Primary Production

Photosynthesis 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O +light  C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2 Need: Co2, H2O, Light and….. N  DNA, RNA, Proteins P  Energy Transport, DNA, RNA Fe  Photosynthetic electron chain ….

Nutrients Macronutrients: N, P, Si, S, Mg, K… Micronutrients: Cu, Fe, Se… Redfield Ratios: PNC SW Phytopl

SW and FW Phytoplankton macronutrient limitation

Oceanic Productivity Limiting Factors Light Nutrients

Bristlecone Pine: years old!

Kelp Forest Macroalgae: 3% Ocean Photosynthesis

Phytoplankton Phytoplankton: 97% Ocean Photosynthesis

Phytoplankton Dominance Phytoplankton – Optimize surface area/volume ( 4 / 3 Пr 2 ) / ( 4 / 3 Пr 3 ) Smaller size  larger surf. area/volume 5μm = 1/5 10μm = 1/10 –Small Particles sink slower Larger surf. area/volume  Slower sinking

Phytoplankton spines: increase in surface for higher floatability

Energy – Mass models

Measuring Productivity

Plant Biomass –How much phytoplankton is there (mg Chl/m 3 ) or (μg Chl/liter) Productivity –A rate of how much carbon is produced per time g Carbon / m 3 / day –GROSS Productivity = Carbon fixed through Photosynthesis per time –NET Productivity = Gross Prod - Respiration Measuring Productivity

Standing Crop: Plant Biomass

Grass clippings after 1 week: Productivity

What do Chl maps really measure? Biomass!

Measurement of Productivity: C 14 incorporation experiments

Phytoplankton consumption: grazing

So Chl concentration is reasonable estimation of primary productivity in surface waters

Ecosystem Productivity (Annual net productivity)

Ocean primary productivity

Productivity and depth

Open water (low productivity)

Coastal and Estuarine waters (high productivity)

Productivity measurements with DEPTH

Photic Zone and Compensation Depth

Upper Pelagic Habitats- Photic Zone

Vertical distribution of Primary production Surface photoinhibition (UV light?) Photosynthetic Maximum Compensation depth Critical Depth –Refers to the whole population –Photosynthesis total = Respiration total

Productivity and depth

Critical Depth CRITICAL DEPTH: Depth at which total primary productivity = Total respiration MIXING DEPTH – Depth above which all water is throughly mixed (WIND) THE PUNCHLINE: MIXING DEPTH > CRITICAL DEPTH: Then Phytopl. are partially swept down and a bloom cannot not occur MIXING DEPTH < CRITICAL DEPTH: then a Phytopl. Bloom can occur

CRITICAL DEPTH

Nitrogen Cycle

Phosphorous Cycle

Figure 13.8

Vertical distribution of Nutrients

Atlantic & Pacific nutrient distribution

Atlantic & Pacific oxygen distribution

Nutrients & distance to shore

Phytoplankton and distance to coast

Nutrient upwelling

July Chlorophyll

January Chlorophyll

Latitudinal effects on Primary productivity

Seasonal stratification

Seasonal effects on Primary Productivity

Consumers or Grazers

Temperate Ocean Spring Bloom

Absorption Spectrum

Adapted Algae

PI Curves