Improved estimation of f-ratio in natural phytoplankton assemblages
Elskens, M.; Goeyens, L.; Dehairs, F.A.; Rees, A.; Joint, I.; Baeyens, W.F.J. (1999). Improved estimation of f-ratio in natural phytoplankton assemblages. Deep-Sea Res., Part 1, Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 46(10): 1793-1808. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0637(99)00023-0 In: Deep-Sea Research, Part I. Oceanographic Research Papers. Elsevier: Oxford. ISSN 0967-0637; e-ISSN 1879-0119, more Related to:Elskens, M.; Goeyens, L.; Dehairs, F.A.; Rees, A.; Joint, I.; Baeyens, W.F.J. (1998). Improved estimation of f-ratio in natural phytoplankton assemblages, in: Dehairs, F.A. et al. (Ed.) Integrated Marine System Analysis. European Network for Integrated Marine System Analysis FWO Vlaanderen: Proceedings of the second network meeting (Brussels, May 29-31, 1997). pp. 139-150, 2 plates, more |  |
| Keywords | Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton
Ecology > Planktonology
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | | - Rees, A.
- Joint, I.
- Baeyens, W.F.J., more
| |
| Abstract | Statistical properties in nonlinear estimates of f-ratio versus nitrate relationships were investigated using a case study from the European continental margin (project OMEX). Although the OMEX data fit within the family of empirical models introduced by Platt and Harrison (1985), it is shown that the discrepancy between experimental and fitted values is larger than expected, assuming that the data arc accurate. Since the ambient ammonium concentration plays a leading role in regulating new production, the present analysis was extended to include explicitly the effect of ammonium on f-ratio versus nitrate plots. Experimental results based on controlled ammonium additions were used to express the f-ratio as a function of both nitrate concentration and ammonium inhibition, i.e.f (NO3, alfa) .I(NH4, bèta). The estimation behaviour of the data set/model combination was analyzed by testing the appropriateness of various model functions for f and I. The best fit was obtained with a sigmoid curve, for which the random fluctuations was almost commensurate with the probable error inherent to measurements with natural phytoplankton assemblages. Precision of the f-ratio estimates was further assessed from contour diagrams of constant likelihood. The significance, validity limits of tbc estimated parameters and the relevance of the proposed model for predictive tool are discussed. Tbc model results in improved precision of f-ratio estimation. |
|
