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Scientists flag unusual winter chlorophyll dip; nutrient mass‑balance and lab changes underway
Summary
USGS and university researchers reported an unexplained January–February dip in water‑column chlorophyll, discussed nutrient‑limitation and microbialite/resuspension hypotheses, and said USGS will move hypersaline nutrient analyses to Chesapeake Biological Labs while preparing a nutrient mass‑balance draft for December.
USGS scientists and university researchers told the interagency meeting that an uncharacteristic suppression of measured chlorophyll occurred in January–February, with water‑column chlorophyll values near zero despite conditions that usually favor phytoplankton growth.
Presenters outlined three leading hypotheses: (1) reduced nutrient delivery to the sampled pelagic zone (either because inflows were low or nutrients were exported to the North Arm); (2) uptake or sequestration of nutrients by microbialites and biofilms that temporarily remove nutrients from the water column; and (3) physiological suppression…
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