Spatial patchiness of epilithic biofilm caused by refuge-inhabiting high shore gastropods

Aggregations of Melarhaphe neritoides and Littorina saxatilis are common on the high shore in north-east England. These aggregations are frequently found in crevices which act as a refuge from desiccation. The aggregations are surrounded by patches of epilithic biofilm which are visibly lighter in colour than the biofilm present on the remainder of the high shore. Chlorophyll a levels were lower in regions of close proximity to aggregated littorinids (mean = 4.9 μg cm⁻²) as compared to areas >‰5 cm away from the edge of the visible colour change (mean = 15.9 μg cm⁻²). Manipulations of littorinid density showed that areas of high density had significantly lower levels of chlorophyll a than those where littorinids were excluded. This difference was mainly due to the presence of higher numbers of small grazed areas or an increase in size of grazed areas rather than a homogenous change in chlorophyll a levels across the entire manipulated area. These results are supported by observations showing that only 7% of the total foraging time of littorinids was spent outside visibly lighter patches of biofilm suggesting littorinids only control local biofilm levels through grazing.This paper has not been submitted elsewhere in identical or similar form, nor will it be during the first three months after its submission to Hydrobiologia     

The use of dialysis culture in a study of chlorophyll budget in a brackish lagoon,Japan

Growth rates of the entire phytoplankton community of a brackish lagoon in northeastern Japan were estimated by measuring increasing chlorophyll a content in dialysis bags during the summer and early autumn of 1986. The chlorophyll a contents of lagoon water fluctuated between 20 and 200 mg m^–3. At lower densities of phytoplankton (20–50 mg chl. a m^–3), growth rates (the rate of increase of chlorophyll a) exceeded 1 turnover per day, while at higher densities (more than 50 mg chl. a m^–3), the growth rate decreased rapidly. Tidal exchanges of chlorophyll a showed net exports of chlorophyll a from the lagoon to adjacent waters. The exchange rate of chlorophyll a was estimated to be 0.65 d^–1. At about 140 mg m^–3 of chlorophyll a concentration, the increase of chlorophyll in the lagoon water compensated for tidal export. Only a small proportion of primary production was consumed by zooplankton in the lagoon. There were also net exports of ammonium and phosphate from the lagoon. Nutrient flux from sediment exceeded the phytoplankton requirement and was the major source of the ammonium and phosphate exports from the lagoon. The low inorganic N/P atom supply ratio in the lagoon suggests that nitrogen is a major nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth.     

楚科奇海及其海台区粒度分级叶绿素a与初级生产力

2003年夏季中国第二次北极科学考察期间,在楚科奇海及其海台区进行了叶绿素a浓度与初级生产力的现场观测。结果表明,观测海区叶绿素a浓度范围为0.009～30.390μg/dm3。表层浓度为0.050～4.644μg/dm3,平均值为(0.875±0.981)μg/dm3;陆架区次表层和底层的浓度高于表层,海台区深层水的浓度较低,200m层的浓度为(0.015±0.007)μg/dm3。水柱平均叶绿素a浓度区域性特征明显,陆架区高于海台区。R断面进行3趟重复观测,平均叶绿素a浓度分别为(2.564±1.496)μg/dm3,(1.329±0.882)μg/dm3和(0.965±0.623)μg/dm3,浓度呈下降趋势。观测站潜在初级生产力为0.263～4.186mgC/(m.3h),陆架区平均潜在初级生产力((2.305±1.493)mgC/(m.3h))比海台区((0.527±0.374)mgC/(m.3h))高近4倍。平均同化数为(1.22±1.14)mgC/(mgChla.h)。观测区细胞粒径>20μm的小型浮游生物对总叶绿素a浓度和初级生产力的贡献率分别为63.13%和65.16%,细胞粒径2.0～20μm的微型浮游生物和细胞粒径<2.0μm的微微型浮游生物对总叶绿素a和初级生产力的贡献率相差甚小,其对总叶绿素a浓度的贡献率分别为19.18%和17.69%,对总初级生产力的贡献率分别为20.11%和14.73%。     

Phytoplankton grazing by epi- and infauna inhabiting exposed rocks in coral reefs

Exposed rocks with no visible macro-fauna are abundant in all coral reefs. Depletion of phytoplankton cells and pigments by the minute crypto fauna inhabiting the outer few centimeters of such rocks was experimentally studied over an annual cycle in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Different substrata were introduced into small (3.6 L), well mixed, tanks that were fed by running seawater pumped directly from the reef at a rate of 11±1 L h⁻¹. A steady-state reduction in phytoplankton abundance and chlorophyll a concentration of 38±26% (mean ± 1 SD) was found for untreated rocks but not for sand, gravel, or killed controls. Average areal clearance rate by untreated rocks was 17.3±8.0 ml cm⁻² h⁻¹. Conservative extrapolation of this rate to the whole reef community suggests that the fauna inhabiting exposed rocks clears 2.1±0.9 m³ m⁻² d⁻¹ at Eilat. Phytoplankton removal by untreated rocks varied from 1.5 ng chlorophyll a cm⁻² h⁻¹ during the oligotrophic summer conditions to 6 ng chlorophyll a cm⁻² h⁻¹ during the spring bloom. These values correspond to a potential nitrogen gain of 1.3 and 5.2 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. Cryptic reef-rock fauna can have a key role in the biogeochemical functioning of coral reef communities.     

Use of natural polymers as immobilizing agents and effects on the growth of Dunaliella salina and its glycerol production

Agar-agar, agarose, carrageenan and calcium alginate were used for the immobilization of Dunaliella salina cells. Out of the four, agar-agar was found to be the most effective and therefore the study was carried out on it using different pH values ranging from 6 to 10 and cell densities from 0.1 to 0.8 μg chlorophyll (chl, a) per bead to find which are is best suited for glycerol production. The maximum glycerol production of 9.2 μM/mg chl a was recorded in agar-agar immobilized algae and this was followed by 8.4 μM/mg chl a in calcium alginate. The maximum cell number 6.2 × 10⁹/ml and the specific growth rate (μ) of 0.80 l/day were reached at pH 8 in agar-agar immobilized algae. It was shown that the maximum amount of glycerol was produced when the cell density was 0.8 μg chl a/ block. Changing the medium after 24 hours affected the rate of glycerol production at different pH values. Using a cell density of 0.8 μg chl a/block at 16 W/m² light intensity increased the glycerol production in comparison with the use of free living cells.     

Epilithic chlorophyll a,photosynthesis, and respiration in control and fertilized reaches of a tundra stream

Photosynthesis and respiration by the epilithic community on cobble in an arctic tundra stream, were estimated from oxygen production and consumption in short-term (4–12 h), light and dark, chamber incubations. Chlorophyll a was estimated at the end of each incubation by quantitatively removing the epilithon from the cobble. Fertilization of the river with phosphate alone moderately increased epilithic chlorophyll a, photosynthesis, and respiration. Fertilization with ammonium sulfate and phosphate, together, greatly increased each of these variables. Generally, under both control and fertilized conditions, epilithic chlorophyll a concentrations (mg m⁻²), photosynthesis, and respiration (mg O₂ m⁻², h⁻¹) were higher in pools than in riffles. Under all conditions, the P/R ratio was consistent at ∼ 1.8 to 2.0. The vigor of epilithic algae in riffles, estimated from assimilation coefficients (mg O₂ [mg Chl a]⁻¹ h⁻¹) was greater than the vigor of epilithic algae in pools. However, due to the greater accumulation of epilithic chlorophyll a in pools, total production (and respiration) in pools exceeded that in riffles. The epilithic community removed both ammonium and nitrate from water in chambers. Epilithic material, scoured by high discharge in response to storm events and suspended in the water column, removed ammonium and may have increased nitrate concentrations in bulk river water. However, these changes were small compared to the changes exerted by attached epilithon.     

Covariance Analysis of Chlorophyll Distribution in the Sundays River Estuary,Eastern Cape

Summary

An analysis of covariance performed on chlorophyll a distribution data from the Sundays River estuary identified five persistent water masses with significantly different chlorophyll a contents. These corresponded to different hydrodynamic regions within the estuary. The relationship between salinity and chlorophyll a was used to identify a transition zone between the low-salinity upper estuary and the brackish riverine inflow. Chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from <6 μg 1^?1 near the mouth to >100 μg 1^?1 in the middle and upper reaches. High variance of chlorophyll a data in this region was the result of temporal chlorophyll a fluctuations in two time scales. The first related to the daily ebb/tide and the second to the lunar spring/neap tidal cycle. Unlike its importance in larger and deeper estuaries, light played only a minor role in the horizontal distribution of chlorophyll a. The presence of a chlorophyll a maximum in the turbid low salinity region is explained in terms of the relatively constant photic depth/mixed depth ratio along the estuary and the high residence time of water in this region.     

Effects of grazing on the quantity and quality of freshwater Aufwuchs

Qualitative and quantitative measures of the Aufwuchs (scum flora) on artificial substrates in situ were used to evaluate the effects of grazing by freshwater pulmonate snails in a shallow pond in southeastern Michigan. Grazer densities of 216 snails/m² marked reduced standing crop so that after 45 days grazed substrata had 6.46 mg dry weight, 604 µg C and 4.18 µg chlorophyll a as compared to controls with 30.62 mg dry weight, 3699 µg C and 6.29 µg chlorophyll a, all on a per dm² basis.Grazing did not change carbon per mg dry matter but caused significant increases in both µg chlorophyll a (control, 0.206; and grazed, 0.649 µg chlorophyll a/mg dry weight, P < 0.01) and nitrogen (control, 8.3; and grazed, 24.2 µg N/mg dry weight, P < 0.001) after 45 days. Both abundance and diversity of the attached community was reduced by grazing from 24 taxa and 80,889 individuals/cm² on control to 8 taxa and 501 individuals/cm² on grazed substrates. Mean productivity of the Aufwuchs was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced by grazing from 76.3 µg C/(dm²·day) on control to 17.7 µg C/(dm²·day) on grazed substrata.Snails were very efficient at clearing smooth surfaces of living cells, detritus, and particulate inorganic matter. There was little evidence of selectivity except for an apparent inability to remove some of the smallest cells (e.g. Cocconeis sp.) probably for mechanical reasons.     

The effect of non-algal turbidity on the relationship of Secchi depth to chlorophyll a

Data from four reservoirs representative of different trophic states and with different apparent optical properties were analyzed to determine the relationship of Secchi depth to algal biomass as measured by chlorophyll a. In the eutrophic reservoir Secchi depth was determined partially by the chlorophyll a content (r² = 0.31) but only when chlorophyll a data from bloom conditions are included. In the two mesotrophic reservoirs, Secchi depth was entirely determined by non-algal turbidity. In the oligotrophic reservoir, Secchi depth was determined neither by chlorophyll a nor non-algal turbidity and was probably determined by dissolved color. When data from the four reservoirs were pooled (N = 205), 53% of the variation in Secchi depth was explained by: SD = 2.55–0.52 ln (Turbidity) + 0.005 (Chlorophyll a). It is apparent that attempts to estimate algal biomass for trophic state classification or other management practices from Secchi depth data are inappropriate even where moderate amounts of non-algal turbidity are present.     

Thresholds and Stability of Alternative Regimes in Shallow Prairie–Parkland Lakes of Central North America

Numerous studies have demonstrated alternative regimes in shallow lake ecosystems around the world, with one state dominated by submerged macrophytes and the other by phytoplankton. However, the stability of each regime, and thresholds at which lakes shift to the alternative regime, are poorly known. We used a cross-sectional analysis of 72 shallow lakes located in prairie and parkland areas of Minnesota, USA, during 2005 and 2006 to assess the occurrence of alternative regimes and shifts between them. Cluster analysis revealed two distinct groups of lakes characterized not only by different macrophyte abundance and chlorophyll a levels but also by different total phosphorus–chlorophyll a relationships. Thirty-nine lakes were macrophyte- and 23 lakes phytoplankton-dominated in both years, whereas 10 sites shifted sharply between those regimes. We failed to detect a universal shifting threshold in terms of chlorophyll a or total phosphorus. However, 95% of the lakes with chlorophyll a concentrations less than 22 μg l⁻¹ were in a clear-water regime, whereas 95% of the lakes with chlorophyll a higher than 31 μg l⁻¹ were in a turbid regime. Total phosphorus less than 62 μg l⁻¹ was an accurate predictor of lakes in a stable clear-water regime, whereas a large change in biomass of planktivores and benthivores between years was the only variable weakly related to regime shifts. Our results support the theoretical prediction that regime thresholds vary among lakes. We recommend that lake managers focus on improving resilience of clear regimes in shallow lakes by reducing nutrient loading, rather than attempting to identify and manage complex triggers of regime shifts. Author contributions KDZ, MAH, BRH, and MLK all contributed to the design of the study, performed the research, analyzed data, and helped write the article.     

Estimating chlorophyll a abundance from the 'phytoplankton colour' recorded by the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey: validation with simultaneous fluorometry

The green colour (measured with reference to standard colourcharts) of sections of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR)filtering silk was compared with estimates of chlorophyll aconcentration derived from a fluorometer mounted on the CPRduring seven tows in the North Sea between February and May1991. After the green colour was assessed, the abundance ofphytoplankton cells on the filtering silks was quantified bymicroscope analysis. Data were collected for 115 10-nautical-milesamples over a total of seven cruises. For these 115 samples,there was only a weak (F_1.113 = 3.8, P = 0.05, r² = 0.03) positiverelationship between the colour of the filtering silk and thechlorophyll a concentration. However, when this comparison wasrestricted to four tows (68 10-nautical-mile samples) wherethe recorded phytoplankton cell abundance on the silks was verylow, there was a highly significant (F_1.66 /,69.1, P < 0.001,r² = 0.51) positive relationship between the silk colour andthe chlorophyll a concentration. By measuring the relative colourintensity of CPR standard colour categories and quantifyingthe individual variation in the assessment of colour, a theoreticalmodel was developed which pedicted that if the silks were colouredin direct proportion to the chlorophyll a concentration in thewater, then the expert r² for the relationship between silkcolour and chlorophyll a concentration would be 0.62. The greencolour recorded by the CPR survey was therefore identified asa quantitative index of chlorophyll a concentration, but onlywhen numbers of phytoplankton cells on the CPR silks are nothigh.     

Temporal and spatial variability of chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> concentration in Lake Taihu using MODIS time-series data

In order to predict the distribution of chlorophyll a synoptically in Lake Taihu from 2006 to 2008, a common empirical algorithm was developed to relate time series chlorophyll a concentrations in the lake to reflectance derived as a function of band 2 MODIS data (r ² = 0.907, n = 145) using time series from 2005. The empirical model was further validated with chlorophyll a data from a 2008 to 2009 dataset, with RMSE < 7.48 μg l⁻¹ and r ² = 0.978. The seasonal and inter-annual variability of the surface chlorophyll a concentration from 2006 to 2008 was then examined using Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis. The results revealed that the first four modes were significant, explaining 54.0% of the total chlorophyll a variance, and indicated that during the summer, algal blooms always occur in the northern bays, Meiliang Bay and Gonghu Bay, while they occur along the southwestern lakeshore during early summer, fall, and even early winter. The inter-annual variance analysis showed that the duration of algal blooms was from April to December of 2007, which was different from the bloom periods in 2006 and 2008. The results of EOF analysis show its potential for long-term integrated lake monitoring, not only in Lake Taihu but also in other large lakes threatened by accelerating eutrophication.     

Efficacy of a biocide tested on selected lichens and its effects on their substrata

The efficacy of Koretrel^©, a biocide used in south-eastern Asia to remove epilithic photoautotrophic organisms, was tested in the field and laboratory using lichens as target organisms. In situ observations were carried out at increasing time intervals for 6 month on 15 vegetation plots and 21 saxicolous species representative of the lichen flora of Italian monuments, selected according to their different ecology, growth-form and distribution. Change in chlorophyll fluorescence was monitored in three species for 32 day after biocide treatment. The effects of the biocide on the substratum was studied by monitoring changes in capillary water absorption and surface colorimetry of two CaCO₃-containing rocks (Aurisina limestone and Muggia sandstone), and a grey granite. Rock crystal integrity was monitored by SEM. The results show that Koretrel^© is very efficient in killing the lichens. Pronounced effects were observed in all species after 1–2 weeks, with chlorophyll fluorescence reduced to zero in 4 day in the case of Lecanora muralis and Neofuscelia loxodes and in 8 days for Caloplaca saxicola. The biocide considerably decreases capillary water absorption, and alters the surface colour of the substrata, particularly for Aurisina limestone. However, no corrosion features were observed in the rock minerals.     

Determination of the primary charge separation rate in Photosystem II reaction centers at 15 K

We have measured the rate constant for the formation of the oxidized chlorophyll a electron donor (P680⁺) and the reduced electron acceptor pheophytin a ^– (Pheo a ^–) following excitation of isolated Photosystem II reaction centers (PS II RC) at 15 K. This PS II RC complex consists of D₁, D₂, and cytochrome b-559 proteins and was prepared by a procedure which stabilizes the protein complex. Transient absorption difference spectra were measured from 450–840 nm as a function of time with 500fs resolution following 610 nm laser excitation. The formation of P680⁺-Pheo a ^– is indicated by the appearance of a band due to P680⁺ at 820 nm and corresponding absorbance changes at 490, 515 and 546 nm due to the formation of Pheo a ^–. The appearance of the 490 nm and 820 nm bands is monoexponenital with =1.4±0.2 ps. Treatment of the PS II RC with sodium dithionite and methyl viologen followed by exposure to laser excitation results in accumulation of Pheo a ^–. Laser excitation of these prereduced RCs at 15 K results in formation of a transient absorption spectrum assigned to ^1*P680. We observe wavelength-dependent kinetics for the recovery of the transient bleach of the Q_y absorption bands of the pigments in both untreated and pre-reduced PS II RCs at 15K. This result is attributed to an energy transfer process within the PS II RC at low temperature that is not connected with charge separation.Abbreviations PS I Photosystem I - PS II Photosystem II - RC reaction center - P680 primary electron donor in Photosystem II - Chl a chlorophyll a - Pheo a pheophytin a     

Nutrient enrichment experiments in three central Florida lakes of different trophic states

Seasonal nutrient enrichment experiments (short-term bioassays) were conducted in three Florida lakes of different trophic states to determine the effects of addition of various nutrient combinations upon chlorophyll a and phytoplankton standing crops. Nutrient enriched surface water samples with crustacean zooplankton removed were incubated in situ in clear polyethylene bags for 3 to 6 days. The 2⁵ factorial design employed two levels (ambient and enriched) of each of five nutrients [NH₄ ⁺, PO _inf4 ^sup3− , Fe⁻ -EDTA, SiO _inf3 ^sup2− and a cation (Ca²⁺ or K⁺) or trace elements]. Ammonium produced significant increases in chlorophyll a and phytoplankton standing crops in all experiments. Phosphate produced similar results in the mesotrophic lake, but the eutrophic lakes had both positive and nonsignificant responses which varied seasonally between lakes. Iron increased chlorophyll a in most experiments but affected total phytoplankton standing crop only during the summer and fall. Silicon had negative effects in some experiments. Cations and trace elements produced marked differences between lakes for chlorophyll a, but total phytoplankton standing crop showed few significant responses. Synergistic responses to two- and three-factor interactions were observed in all lakes. Differences in the responses of phytoplankton taxonomic divisions to enrichment may be responsible for much of the between lake variation in chlorophyll a and total phytoplankton volume responses. Nutrient limitations in these lakes are discussed and related to limnological factors and predictive models.     

Protein-protein interactions of the light-harvesting chlorophyll protein. II. Evidence for two stages of cation independent association

In a previous paper, we observed a two-stage cation-independent association of the light-harvesting chlorophyll protein from spinach chloroplasts based on concentration-dependent changes in the sedimentation coefficient. The two stages of association occurred between (2–4) and (4–7) μg/ml chlorophyll. In this paper, we provide further evidence for this association.This includes: (1) A decrease in the number of divalent cation binding sites in the second stage of association. (2) A corresponding decrease in the extent of the cation-dependent association. (3) A positive deviation from Beer's law for chlorophyll b for both stages of the cation-independent association and a positive deviation for chlorophyll a for the second stage of association only. (4) A change in the fluorescence emission of both chlorophyll a and b. The change for chlorophyll b was observed for both steps of association whereas that for chlorophyll a was observed for the second step of association only. Therefore, the first stage of association affects only chlorophyll b whereas the second stage alters the environment of both chlorophyll a and b. (5) In addition, divalent cations quenched chlorophyll fluorescence. However, the quenching which required 200–300 μM divalent cation for half-maximal effects was related neither to divalent cation binding nor to the divalent cation-induced association of the protein.     

Chlorophyll content of seston in a regulated Rocky Mountain river,Idaho, USA

The chlorophyll content of seston at four sites in a regulated mid-order Rocky Mountain river, Henry's Fork of the Snake River, Idaho, USA, was examined. Spectrometry was used to determine the amount of chlorophyll a, b, c and in seston and potential organic matter sources including macrophytes, algae, plankton, and terrestial plant litter. The amount of chlorophyll in seston varied among size fractions, sites, and seasons. Coarse seston (6–1 mm) contained the most chlorophyll a (2.3 mg g^–1 ashfree dry mass [AFDM]) followed by ultra fine seston (53–0.3 µm; 1.9 mg g^–1 AFDM), very coarse seston (> 6 mm, 1.8 mg g^–1 AFDM), very fine seston (250–53 µm; 1.3 mg g^–1 AFDM), and fine seston (1–0.25 mm; 0.7 mg g^–1 AFDM). Chlorophyll content of coarse seston was similar at all sites reflecting a common source, aquatic macrophyte debris. Chlorophyll content of coarse and fine seston were highest in fall reflecting the importance of phenology of aquatic plants on sestonic pigment levels. Very fine seston from below a reservoir contained more chlorophyll than seston from downstream and tributary sites suggesting a reservoir source. Terrestial plant litter was chlorophyll depleted compared to autochthonous materials and seston. Most seston was autochthonously-derived from a variety of macrophyte, algal, and planktonic sources. The chlorophyll content of Henry's Fork seston was higher than that reported for similar rivers. Island Park Dam moderates river temperature and flow, enhances autotrophy, and accounts for the consistently high sestonic chlorophyll levels.     

Depth distribution of photosynthetic pigments and diatoms in the sediments of a microtidal fjord

The depth distribution of photosynthetic pigments and benthic marine diatoms was investigated in late spring at three different sites on the Swedish west coast. At each site, sediment cores were taken at six depths (7–35 m) by scuba divers. It was hypothesized that (1) living benthic diatoms constitute a substantial part of the benthic microflora even at depths where the light levels are <1% of the surface irradiance, and (2) the changing light environment along the depth gradient will be reflected in (a) the composition of diatom assemblages, and (b) different pigment ratios. Sediment microalgal communities were analysed using epifluorescence microscopy (to study live cells), light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (diatom preparations), and HPLC (photosynthetic pigments). Pigments were calculated as concentrations (mg m^–2) and as ratios relative to chlorophyll a. Hypothesis (1) was accepted. At 20 m, the irradiance was 0.2% of surface irradiance and at 7 m, 1%. Living (epifluorescent) benthic diatoms were found down to 20 m at all sites. The cell counts corroborated the diatom pigment concentrations, decreasing with depth from 7 to 25 m, levelling out between 25 and 35 m. There were significant positive correlations between chlorophyll a and living (epifluorescent) benthic diatoms and between the diatom pigment fucoxanthin and chlorophyll a. Hypothesis (2) was only partly accepted because it could not be shown that light was the main environmental factor. A principal component analysis on diatom species showed that pelagic forms characterized the deeper locations (25–35 m), and epipelic–epipsammic taxa the shallower sites (7–20 m). Redundancy analyses showed a significant relationship between diatom taxa and environmental factors – temperature, salinity, and light intensities explained 57% of diatom taxa variations.     

Seasonality and controls of phytoplankton productivity in the middle Cape Fear River, USA

Our 1 year study was aimed at assessing seasonal patterns and controls on phytoplankton primary production (PPR) and biomass (chlorophyll a) in a fourth order section of the middle Cape Fear River in North Carolina, USA, and to determine the impact of three low-head lock and dam (LD) structures on these variables within the 70 km study reach of this coastal river. Mean concentrations of NO₃ ⁻–N, NH₄ ⁺–N and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) averaged 52.9, 6.0, and 3.6 μmol l⁻¹ in monthly sampling, while the average light attenuation coefficient was 2.4 m⁻¹. The average euphotic depth was 2.1 m. Nutrient concentrations and attenuation coefficients were not significantly different above versus below each LD, or along the entire study reach. Significantly higher concentrations of dissolved O₂ below versus above each LD were attributed to re-aeration during spillway transit. No seasonal pattern in physicochemical properties was apparent. Phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from <1 to 36 μg l⁻¹, while rates of primary production ranged from 18 to 2,580 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹, with values for both variables peaking in the spring and early summer. Chlorophyll a and primary productivity values were consistently higher above versus below each LD in May and June suggesting a seasonal effect, but values were otherwise similar such that overall means were not significantly different. Several factors point to light as the primary control on phytoplankton in the middle Cape Fear River: high nutrient concentrations; a low ratio of euphotic : mixing depth (0.46); progressive increases in chlorophyll a and radiocarbon uptake in all treatments in quarterly nutrient enrichment bioassays conducted at levels of irradiance elevated relative to in situ river values; and consistently low quarterly values of (maximum rate of chlorophyll-normalized C uptake; ≤3.7 mg C mg chl a⁻¹ h⁻¹) and I _k (light saturation parameter; ≤104 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) for photosynthetic light–response (P–I) curves. Handling editor: L. Naselli-Flores