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MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 166:63-71 (1998)  -  doi:10.3354/meps166063

The Photosynthetic Light Dispensation System: application to microphytobenthic primary production measurements

Kirsten Wolfstein*, Peter Hartig**

Research and Technology Centre Westcoast, University of Kiel, D-25761 Büsum, Germany
*Present address: Sustainable Forest Management Network, G-208 Biological Science Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
**Addressee for correspondence. E-mail:

Measurements of microphytobenthos primary production were carried out in the German Wadden Sea in order to test the application of a 'Photosynthetic Light Dispensation System', which was originally developed for photosynthetic research of higher plants. A description of the computer-controlled system, consisting mainly of a subunit providing the irradiance (photosynthetically active radiation, PAR), and a subunit equipped with a Clark-type electrode for measuring oxygen production and respiration processes is given. The system allows rapid and reproducible measurements of photosynthesis-irradiance (P-E) curves at light modes predetermined by the computer and simple, rapid data analysis. Additionally, P-E curves obtained by this system were compared to those received by simultaneously conducted 14C measurements. Primary production measured by the oxygen method was on average 2.00 times higher than the values obtained by the 14C method. Production rates varied between 1.7 and 4.1 mg C mg chl a-1 h-1 with a mean of 2.75 mg C mg chl a-1 h-1.


Photosynthetic Light Dispensation System · Primary production · Microphytobenthos · German Wadden Sea


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