| Abstract: | Daily phytoplankton production was estimated at the sea surface in the southern Benguela Current during January, March, April and October 1978 by different methods of calculation. Actual daily production (P24 meas) was obtained from a series of short-term (3—4 h) incubations spanning 24 hours. Daily production was also extrapolated from single measurements during daylight by the "time factor" and "light factor" methods of calculation. These estimates (P24 calc) vary considerably from P24 meas, but on average they underestimate daily production. Estimates by the "light factor" method are generally lower and more variable than those from the "time factor" method. Differences in amplitude and timing of fluctuations in the rate of net production during daylight make it impossible to calculate reliable factors for correcting diel variations in photosynthesis when estimating daily production from short-term measurements. It is suggested that the effects of diel variation in production are likely to be less significant in the euphotic zone as a whole than at the sea surface alone. |
