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Vertical distribution and sinking characteristics of seston in the lower York River, Virginia

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Chesapeake Science

Abstract

Vertical distribution and sinking characteristics of seston are described over an annual cycle at a station in the lower York River.

Total seston concentrations generally increased with depth due to increase in the inorganic components. This increase is attributed to resuspension from bottom deposits. Organic material tended to be uniform in vertical distribution.

Sinking characteristics are of two types, mass flux [ML−2T−1] and settling velocity [LT−1]. The downward flux of organic material was less than that of inorganic, and flux of the latter increased greatly with depth. The sinking velocity of organic seston was slow compared to inorganic, but both fractions accelerated in the upper half of the water column to maximum sinking rates which remained nearly constant in the lower half. The average time for material to settle from a depth of 2 ft to 22 ft was estimated to be 0.13 days for total seston, 0.34 days for organic and 0.06 days for inorganic.

Except during the spring bloom no correlation was observed between vertical seston distributions and those of phytoplankton populations, nor between size of the populations and concentration of particles. During the period of reduced phytoplankton following the spring bloom organic seston was higher than in any other season and inorganic matter exceptionally low.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Bernard C. Patten

    Present address: Radiation Ecology Section, Health Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

  2. David K. Young

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia

    Bernard C. Patten, David K. Young & Morris H. Roberts

Authors
  1. Bernard C. Patten
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  2. David K. Young
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  3. Morris H. Roberts
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Additional information

Contribution No. 209 from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

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Patten, B.C., Young, D.K. & Roberts, M.H. Vertical distribution and sinking characteristics of seston in the lower York River, Virginia. Chesapeake Science 7, 20–29 (1966). https://doi.org/10.2307/1350985

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