Dependance of phytoplankton chlorophyll on bottom resuspension in Cleveland Bay, northern Queensland

Abstract

In relatively shallow regions of the lagoon of the central Great Barrier Reef. phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations are dependent on intermittent resuspension of bottom sediment by wind-generated waves. This results in a strong inverse correlation between chlorophyll a levels and transparency over a period of time. Bottom resuspension and resettling cause a mide transparency range to occur at any given station. but the mean Secchi disc depth increases linearly with water depth across the lagoon.