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Phytoplankton biomass and production in the River Meuse (Belgium)

par Descy, Jean Pierre;Servais, Pierre ;Smitz, Joseph S.;Billen, Gilles ;Everbecq, E.
Référence Water research, 21, 12, page (1557-1566)
Publication Publié, 1987

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

The biomass and production of the phytoplankton in a relatively unpolluted reach of the River Meuse were followed through 1983 and 1984. Chlorophyll a varied from 0.2 to about 120 mg/cu m, and production ranged between 0.05 and 5.78 g C/sq m/day. The mean photosynthetic quotient was 1.25. The parameters of the light-photosynthesis relationship (P sub opt = rate of light-saturated photosynthesis, and l sub k = onset of light saturation of photosynthesis) were calculated and related to the variations of temperature and light in the water column. A simple model allowed calculations of the annual production, which was estimated to be 494 g C/sq m/yr in 1983 and 547 g C/sq m/yr in 1984. A model was developed that explains the relationship between phytoplankton development and discharge: this model shows how the effect of discharge can be described by a ' dilution rate ' of the plankton growing in the river water.