Composition and Biomass of Phytoplankton

Abstract

The structure of photosynthetic populations in aquatic ecosystems is dynamic and constantly changing in species composition and biomass distribution. An understanding of community structure is dependent on an ability to differentiate between true population changes and variations in spatial and temporal distribution. Changes in species composition and biomass may affect photosynthetic rates, assimilation efficiencies, rates of nutrient utilization, grazing rates, and so on.