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Nitrogen limitation in the tropical waters of the Bay of Bengal

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Abstract

A 3 year study (1986–1989) was carried out in the Bay of Bengal off Madras in order to understand the influence of physical and chemical variables on the occurrence, abundance and productivity of its phytoplankton. Biochemical oxygen demand and nutrient concentrations were highest near the mouth of river Cooum. Pigments and net primary production in nearshore waters varied between 4.1 and 1113 C mg m−3 h−1, while in offshore waters the maximum was only 201 mg C m−3 h−1. Multiple regression analysis with net photosynthesis as the dependent variable and other variates as the independent variables revealed that nutrients did not account for much variation in net photosynthesis in nearshore stations but contributed significantly to variation in offshore station. Analyses of seawater collected during two cruises in coastal waters at 18–22° N latitude revealed that nitrogen was low in comparison to phosphorus and could be limiting primary production in the surface waters of the Bay.

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  1. Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, University of Madras, 600025, Guindy, Madras, India

    C. P. Valsaraj & V. N. R. Rao

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  1. C. P. Valsaraj
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  2. V. N. R. Rao
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Valsaraj, C.P., Rao, V.N.R. Nitrogen limitation in the tropical waters of the Bay of Bengal. Hydrobiologia 286, 139–148 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006245

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006245

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