Temperature, length of growth season and phytoplankton abundance in the Gulf of Maine
Knut Seip
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
Faculty of Engineering, Arts and Design, Oslo and Akershus University College for Applied Sciences, Pilestredet 35, POB 4 St Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway. Email: knut.lehre.seip@hioa.no
Marine and Freshwater Research 66(9) 759-766 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14034
Submitted: 12 August 2013 Accepted: 28 October 2014 Published: 19 March 2015
Abstract
I show that the relation between annual average phytoplankton concentration (mg Chl-a m–3) and in situ sea surface temperature (SST) is positive (Chl-a = ~0.5 × SST, r = 0.8, P < 0.001) at an average temperature of 11°C (range 10–12°C) in the Gulf of Maine. However, within-seasonal observations (for 2005–09) were predominantly negatively associated. For the first relationship that describes annual averages, the extension of the growth season with increasing temperature may be an important factor. I show that an increase of 1°C starts the growing season 8 days earlier and lengthens the season by 13 days (for temperature >10°C). Tentative calculations suggest that the increased length matches the increase in annual phytoplankton concentration. For the second relationship that describes within-seasonal relationships, I suggest that warmer water during late summer increases stratification and limits nutrient supply to the upper productive layer.
Additional keywords: Chl-a, coastal region.
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