| Abstract: | A dynamic box model was applied to study the characteristics of biogeochemical cycling of PO4−P, NO3−N, AOU, POC and PON in the southern Taiwan Strait region based on the field data of the “Minnan Taiwan Bank Fishing Ground
Upwelling Ecosystem Study” during the period of Dec. 1987–Nov. 1988. According to the unique hydrological and topographical
features of the region, six boxes and three layers were considered in the model. The variation rates and fluxes of elements
induced by horizontal current, upwelling, by diffusion, sinking of particles and biogeochemical processes were estimated respectively.
Results further confirmed that upwellings had important effects in this region. The nearshore upwelling areas had net input
fluxes of nutrients brought by upwelling water, also had high depletion rates of nutrients and production rates of particulate
organic matter and dissolved oxygen. The abnormal net production of nutrients in the middle layer, (10–30 m) indicated the
important role of bacteria in this high production region. The phytoplankton POC contributed about 28% of the total POC. POC
settling out from the euphotic zone was estimated to be 2×10−6 g/(m2·s) which was about 35% of the primary production. |
