Marine Biology

2.Temperature

Temperature acts along with other factors in influencing the variation of photosynthetic production. Generally, the rate of photosynthesis increases with an increase in temperature but diminishes sharply after a point is reached. Each species of phytoplankton is adapted to a particular temperature. In addition to the direct influence, temperature has same important indirect effects on production, particularly in relation to its role in the establishment of a thermocline and also in the mixing of water, resulting in the supply of nutrients to the euphotic zone.