Net in situ growth rates of phytoplankton in an oligotrophic, tropical shelf ecosystem

In situ growth rates of phytoplankton in tropical shelf waters of the Great Barrier Reef were measured with diffusion chambers. A broad disparity was observed between the growth responses of diatom species or assemblages (p,,,. = 2-5 doublings d-l) and assemblages of microflagellatcs, nonmotile ultraplankton, or phototrophic picoplankton (p,,,, 0.5) at ambient concentrations of dissolved inorganic N ~0.2 pm01 liter-' and the time-averaged diurnal irradiances in situ >50 pEinst m-2 SK'. If relative constancy in phytoplankton standing crop and composition is to bc maintained, grazing rates must vary widely at the species level, but be broadly similar to growth rates over time scales of days. Although the full 40-80-m water column in the central Great Barrier Reef lies the euphotic zone, phytoplankton growth rates near the bottom seem to bc light limited.

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