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Phytoplankton biomass and production in the upwelling region of NW Africa. Relationships with hydrographic parameters

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Abstract

Phytoplankton biomass and production in the upwelling region of NW Africa and relationships with hydrographic parameters were studied. During the cruise of “Atlor VII” carried out in November 1975 in the upwelling region of NW Africa, measurements of chlorophyll a and primary production as derived from 14C uptake experiments were made at a total of 40 stations. Biomass and production showed the higher values on the shelf in the area of Banc d'Arguin and north of Cap Blanc. Production estimates in this area ranged between 1.4 and 3.2 g C m-2 d-1. There was a marked minimum in biomass and production at Lat. 21 ° N, in the zone of maximum upwelling intensity. With the exception of this minimum, the productive area coincided with the zone where surface temperature was lower than 18 ° C (indicating dominance of upwelled Central Waters) and nutrients were detectable in the upper layers. In the poorer offshore area there was a distinct subsurface chlorophyll maximum. The results are compared with those of previous cruises and some features of the seasonal cycle in the studied area are discussed.

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  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Pesqueras, Paseo Nacional; s/n, Barcelona-3, Spain

    M. Estrada

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  1. M. Estrada
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Communicated by J. M. Pérès, Marseille

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Estrada, M. Phytoplankton biomass and production in the upwelling region of NW Africa. Relationships with hydrographic parameters. Mar. Biol. 60, 63–71 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395607

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