Deep chlorophyll maxima across a trophic state gradient: A case study in the Laurentian Great Lakes.

ABSTRACT: Deep chlorophyll maxima (DCM) are common in stratified lakes and oceans, and phytoplankton growth within DCM often contributes significantly to total system production. Theory suggests that properties of DCM should be predictable by trophic state, with DCM becoming deeper, broader, and less productive with greater oligotrophy. However, rigorous tests of these expectations are lacking in freshwater systems. We use data generated by the U.S. EPA from 1996 to 2017, including in situ profile data for temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), chlorophyll, beam attenuation (c _p), and dissolved oxygen (DO), to investigate patterns in DCM across lakes and over time. We consider trophic state, 1% PAR depth (z _1%), thermal structure, and degree of ph

SUBMITTER: Scofield AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7687176 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature