Seasonal photoadaptation and diatom dynamics in temperate waters

Abstract

Using a fully depth-resolved nutrient-phytoplankton model we investigate the influence that photoadaptive responses may have upon the seasonal dynamics of diatoms in the subtropical waters to the east of New Zealand. The wintertime diatom standing stocks can differ by up to 2 orders of magnitude depending upon the form of photoadaptive response assumed. As a consequence of this difference in wintertime stocks, the timing of the spring bloom varies by almost 1 mo. The spring bloom is terminated by N limitation rather than by Si limitation.