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An in vivo fluorescence response in the Bay of Biscay in June

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

R. D. Pingree  and
R. P. Harris
R. D. Pingree
Affiliation:
N.E.R.C. Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Brook Road, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5UB
R. P. Harris
Affiliation:
The Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB
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Conclusion and summary

Surface fluorescence measurements in June in the Bay of Biscay showed little correlation with chlorophyll a measurements due to the presence of a marked diurnal fluorescence rhythm although satisfactory correlations have been obtained at other times of year in the same region (see Fig. 10 of Pingree et al. 1982). By contrast, the beam attenuation coefficient values showed a good correlation with the chlorophyll a measurements and can be used to map the sea surface distribution of chlorophyll a when the diurnal rhythm is present, particularly when the phytoplankton is dominated by a single species. This conclusion may be of considerable practical significance when contemplating synoptic surveys in such situations. As Prezlin & Ley (1980) have observed there is growing awareness that fluorescence per unit chlorophyll a is not a constant that can be used reliably in mixed phytoplankton biomass estimates based on in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence, and the problem is clearly compounded if some species exhibit a marked diurnal fluorescence rhythm. Furthermore, the present observations support the caveats of Falkowski & Kiefer (1985), that in situ moored fluorometers, the use of air-borne laser-induced fluorescence, or satellite-received passive, solar-induced fluorescence, only measure fluorescence, not chlorophyll per se.

The fluorescence response near the shelf-break over a 24 h period following a drogued dahn buoy showed a variation of about a factor of 5 between the day and night fluorescence levels. Beam attenuation coefficient measurements and Coulter Counter analyses showed that these results could not be attributed to the migration of the phytoplankton.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , August 1988 , pp. 519 - 529
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1988

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References

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