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    Western Maine Coastal Current reduces primary production rates, zooplankton abundance and benthic nutrient fluxes in Massachusetts Bay

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    Date
    2013-08
    Author
    McManus, M. Conor  Concept link
    Oviatt, Candace A.  Concept link
    Giblin, Anne E.  Concept link
    Tucker, Jane  Concept link
    Turner, Jefferson T.  Concept link
    Metadata
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    Citable URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/1912/6391
    As published
    https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fst195
    Keyword
     Boston Harbor; Massachusetts Bay; Merrimack River; North Atlantic Oscillation; Primary production; Western Maine Coastal Current; Wind stress 
    Abstract
    Primary production was measured from 1992-2010 in Massachusetts Bay and just outside Boston Harbor for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s outfall monitoring program. In 2003, annual primary production decreased by 221-278 g C m-2 year-1, with decreased rates continuing through 2010. Based on a conceptual model, oceanographic and meteorological variables were analyzed with production rates to determine if concurrent environmental changes were responsible for the reduced primary production in Massachusetts Bay. Results indicated that stronger influx of low salinity water from the western Maine Coastal Current (WMCC) in recent years might be responsible for the decreases. The WMCC appeared to have become fresher from increased river discharge in the western Gulf of Maine. Northeasterly winds in recent years promoted WMCC intrusion into Massachusetts Bay. Correlation between primary production and surface salinities suggested the impact of the WMCC on production rates. We hypothesized that increased stratification resulted in reduced vertical mixing and nutrient concentrations in surface waters for phytoplankton growth. However, no significant correlations were observed between the annual primary production and nutrient concentrations in Massachusetts Bay. Reduced production rates in Massachusetts Bay have been associated with reduced zooplankton abundances, benthic ammonium fluxes and sediment oxygen demand in summer months.
    Description
    Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2013. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Oxford University Press for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in ICES Journal of Marine Science 71 (2014): 1158-1169, doi:10.1093/icesjms/fst195.
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    • Ecosystems Center
    Suggested Citation
    Preprint: McManus, M. Conor, Oviatt, Candace A., Giblin, Anne E., Tucker, Jane, Turner, Jefferson T., "Western Maine Coastal Current reduces primary production rates, zooplankton abundance and benthic nutrient fluxes in Massachusetts Bay", 2013-08, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fst195, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/6391
     

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