Index of non-photosyntetic pigments

The index of the content of non-photosynthetic pigments f_a in phytoplankton cells on the water surface shows the ratio of photosynthetic pigments to the sum of photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments present in phytoplankton cells (photoprotective pigments are produced by phytoplankton under conditions of high light intensity in the blue band, i.e. at risk of photoinhibition). This parameter is important in determining the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis used to directly determine the value of primary production. This parameter is dimensionless and varies in the Baltic Sea from about 0.5 to 1.

Methodology

The index of the content of non-photosynthetic pigments on the surface of the Baltic Sea is determined using the DESAMBEM model (Woźniak et al., 2008).

The input data to this model are the concentration of chlorophyll a just below the surface and the daily dose of surface illumination. Vertical concentration profiles of the main groups of photosynthetic pigments of phytoplankton - chlorophylls a, b,c photosynthetic carotenoids and phycobilins are calculated (Majchrowski et al., 2007). In the next step, the energies absorbed by photosynthetic pigments PUR_PSP and by all pigments PUR in phytoplankton cells are determined. The index is determined as the ratio of PUR_PSP to PUR.

Appropriate formulas for its determination can be found in articles (Wozniak et al., 2008; Woźniak et al., 2007).

Link to the parameter in the SatBaltic System:

Index of non-photosynthetic pigments: 0 m  (for registered users)