Date of Award

Summer 2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean & Earth Sciences

Program/Concentration

Ocean and Earth Sciences

Committee Director

Margaret R. Mulholland

Committee Member

Roger Harvey

Committee Member

Alexander Bochdansky

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.O35 S837 2014

Abstract

Net community metabolism (NCM), the balance between primary production and community respiration, was measured during two cruises, June 2011 and August 2012, in the Middle Atlantic Bight, Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine. Net heterotrophy was observed in Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine during the June 2011 cruise. During the August 2012 cruise, net heterotrophy was observed in the Middle Atlantic Bight and net autotrophy was observed in Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine. Dark community respiration increased (DCR) with biomass and temperature. Gross community production (GCP) also increased with Chl a, bicarbonate uptake, and temperature. Net community production (NCP) had significant positive relationships with Chl a, and bicarbonate uptake while temperature had a negative relationship with NCP. The net heterotrophy observed at many of the stations may have been episodic in nature. In June 2011, the observed heterotrophic metabolism followed an intense spring bloom that occurred in April in Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine. The net heterotrophy observed in the Middle Atlantic Bight in August is likely also episodic as chlorophyll decreased in the region from July to August while chlorophyll concentrations in the Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine increased in August leading to net autotrophic metabolism and the onset of an early fall bloom. The observed net heterotrophy in the Middle Atlantic Bight could be sustained by dissolved organic matter inputs from nearshore or other productive regions within the MAB and Georges Bank.

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DOI

10.25777/6zjw-zc81

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