Phytoplankton light absorption and the package effect in California coastal waters

Abstract

The influence of the "package effect' on phytoplankton absorption spectra was assessed by comparison of absorption coefficient spectra based on direct measurement with spectral reconstructions calculated from HPLC-determined pigment concentrations. Results suggest that existing models for phytoplankton absorption properties will benefit from inclusion of information on the package effect, determined from direct absorption measurements or from information on the taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton community. -from Authors