Abstract
The Red Sea depicts a north–south gradient of positively correlated temperature and nutrient concentration. Despite its overall oligotrophic characteristics, primary production rates in the Red Sea vary considerably. In this study, based on five cruises and a 2-year time series (2016–2018) sampling in the Central Red Sea, we determined phytoplankton photosynthetic rates (PP) by using 13C as a tracer and derived phytoplankton net growth rates (μ) and chlorophyll a (Chl a)-normalized photosynthesis (PB). Our results indicate a ninefold variation (14–125 mgC m−2 h−1) in depth-integrated primary production and reveal a marked seasonality in PP, PB, and μ. Depth-integrated PP remained
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Journal | Limnology and Oceanography |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 12 2021 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-06-15Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): BAS/1/1072-01-01, BAS/1/1071-01-01, CCF/1/1973-21-01
Acknowledgements: The authors thank Sebastian Overmans, Alexa Coello Camba, Sreejith Kottuparambil, Juan M. Ayala, and Gala González González for their field support during the Threats and DUST Cruise, and during the sampling at the time-series station. We also would like to thank CMOR personal and the crew of the R/V Thuwal and Al Azizi. This research has been funded by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (grant nos. BAS/1/1072-01-01 assigned to SA, BAS/1/1071-01-01 assigned to C.M.D., and CCF/1/1973-21-01 assigned to RSRC).
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Science