Spatiotemporal variability of inorganic nitrogen stocks and uptake fluxes in the Scotia-Weddell Confluence area during November and December 1988

Abstract

In this area a central low-salinity and low-nitrate compartment extends southward from the Scotia Front over 1-1.5° latitude. High ammonium concentrations and marked nitrate depletions indicate an enhanced biological activity. This marginal ice zone ecosystem shifts from predominantly new production based (highest f-ratio 0.83) to regenerated production based (lowest f-ratio 0.30) after c3 wk. This transition corresponds with the change from a higher diatom presence to a higher flagellate presence in the phytoplankton community. -from Authors