Spatial and seasonal variation in chlorophyll distribution in the upper 30 m of the photic zone in the southern Benguela/Agulhas ecosystem |
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| Abstract: | Depth-integrated chlorophyll a in the upper 30 m is used as an index of phytoplankton biomass. Mean concentrations of chlorophyll a (1971–1989) were calculated for half-degree rectangles of latitude and longitude within the 500 m isobath off the South African coast. These data were used to estimate median and mean concentrations and coefficients of variance for different seasons and geographical strata (i.e. inshore and offshore regions of the continental shelf along the West, Cape and South coasts). Offshore, longshore and seasonal differences in the distribution of phytoplankton biomass in the Benguela/Agulhas system were tested for statistical significance. |
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