Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Unit 5- Productivity

5.2.1. Types of production
• Regular production
• Irregular production


The variation can be attributed to temperature, illumination and availability of nutrients in the euphotic zone. During the winter period even though a high concentration of nutrients present owing to convectional mixing, the decrease in illumination and temperature to prevented the increase of phytoplankton production during summer season as a result of the formation of the thermo cline. The nutrient replenishment of the euphotic zone results in low phytoplankton. During autumn even though nutrients concentration was more due to decrease of both illumination and temperature caused for lower phytoplankton production. While, high production during spring season was attributed to the high illumination and temperature.
In tropical water the conditions are more or less consistent throughout the year with respect to sufficient illumination and temperature for phytoplankton cell growth and production.