Intra-annual Variability in Primary Producer Groups and Nitrogen Dynamics in an Intermittently Closed Estuary Exposed to Mediterranean Climate

Abstract

Nutrient dynamics in estuaries are temporally variable in response to changing physical-chemical conditions and biogeochemical processes involving primary producer groups such as phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, seagrass and macroalgae. In order to reveal intra-annual changes in the biomass of primary producer groups and associated changes in estuarine nutrient dynamics, we developed a box model, coupling water inflows and outflows and nitrogen dynamics in Wilson Inlet, a large, central-basin-dominated, intermittently closed estuary exposed to a Mediterranean climate in Western Australia. The model is calibrated and validated with monitoring data, aquatic plant biomass estimates and biogeoc..