Date of Award

Spring 5-6-2015

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Marine Science

Director of Thesis

Tammi Richardson

First Reader

Bridget Bachman

Abstract

Phytoplankton are the autotrophic foundation of almost all marine ecosystems.

The flow of energy through an ecosystem is largely dependent how productivity moves through organisms of various sizes. For this reason, numerous studies have set out to quantify the respective contributions of these size-fractions to biomass and rates of primary production. This is done through field measurements of production or through mathematic models that infer production contributions from the easier field measured contributions to biomass. However, the accuracy of this method has been called into question. Can contributions to biomass really be used to accurately interpret contributions to production?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate this question through the analysis of past research

First Page

1

Last Page

32

Rights

© 2015, Luke Auman Bassett

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