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Freshwater Runoff Control of the Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Phytoplankton in the Lower St.Lawrence Estuary (Canada)

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The Role of Freshwater Outflow in Coastal Marine Ecosystems

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIG,volume 7))

Abstract

Sampling carried out in the Lower St.Lawrence Estuary reveals a strong influence of freshwater runoff on the spatiotemporal distribution of phytoplankton. At high discharge rates (spring and fall) the whole Lower Estuary forms a single fresh-water plume and phytoplankton distribution is mainly controlled by dilution and advective processes. At low discharge rates (summer) the two main freshwater sources form two geographically localized plumes with different physical and biological characteristics.

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© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Therriault, JC., Levasseur, M. (1986). Freshwater Runoff Control of the Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Phytoplankton in the Lower St.Lawrence Estuary (Canada). In: Skreslet, S. (eds) The Role of Freshwater Outflow in Coastal Marine Ecosystems. NATO ASI Series, vol 7. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70886-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70886-2_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-70888-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-70886-2

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