Metrics
3 File views/ downloads
40 Record Views
Thesis
EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT INPUT AND MICROZOOPLANKTON GRAZING ON PHYTOPLANKTON PRODUCTIVITY IN THE GRAND BAY ESTUARY, MISSISSIPPI
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2017
Abstract
The estuarine system at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Mississippi is a near pristine wetland home to a diversity of flora and fauna. While seasonal fluctuations in water quality are well understood, less is known about the coupled dynamics of water quality and phytoplankton production. Light availability, nutrient levels, and grazing are key factors regulating phytoplankton. Previous studies have revealed Grand Bay to primarily be limited by nitrogen rather than phosphorus or light. Since then extended phosphate inputs from the neighboring Mississippi Phosphates fertilizer plant have occurred provoking the following question: will the phosphate inputs affect the growth and structure of the phytoplankton communities? This study is investigating the effects of inputs of an array of nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, silicon, and phosphate) on phytoplankton growth, community structure, and production over an annual cycle. Phytoplankton production was monitored as biomass (chlorophyll a concentration) and 14C-bicarbonate fixation. Specific comparisons were made between NH4+ and NO3- to distinguish any preference to different forms of nitrogen (N); however, no preference was observed. Interestingly, the manner in which phytoplankton responded to N additions show that not only is N the limiting nutrient, but that limitation is being exacerbated by excess phosphate (P). Furthermore, this is the first study showing that phytoplankton growth in Bangs Lake was controlled by microzooplankton grazing in all but two months of the study when water temperatures were coolest.
Details
- Title
- EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT INPUT AND MICROZOOPLANKTON GRAZING ON PHYTOPLANKTON PRODUCTIVITY IN THE GRAND BAY ESTUARY, MISSISSIPPI
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Copyright
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
- Identifiers
- 99380090852706600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida