Academic Journal

An holistic analysis of the coupling between physical and biological processes in the coastal zone

Bibliographic Details
Title: An holistic analysis of the coupling between physical and biological processes in the coastal zone
Authors: Mike Heath
Source: Ophelia. 42:95-125
Publisher Information: Informa UK Limited, 1995.
Publication Year: 1995
Subject Terms: 0106 biological sciences, 13. Climate action, 14. Life underwater, 01 natural sciences, 6. Clean water, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Description: The coastal zone is treated as an integrated physical system extending from the upper limit of the watershed on the landward side to the identifiable downstream limit of the shelf sea plume on the seaward side. Emergent spatial properties of the system are identified, which define a chain of segments representing a transect through the coastal zone. The integrated chemical and biological properties of individual segments are described by the net system metabolism, the ratio of gross primary production and gross respiration. Changes in net metabolism along the coastal zone transect are driven by physical flushing of the segments and allochthonous carbon and nutrient loadings. Flushing interacts with chemistry ami biology by competing with heterotrophic processes for the dissolved and particulate products of autotrophic processes. Thus, the net metabolic response of a segment to allochthonous loading will be governed by the rate of flushing. One outcome of the review is the conclusion that coastal ...
Document Type: Article
Language: English
ISSN: 0078-5326
DOI: 10.1080/00785326.1995.10431499
Access URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00785326.1995.10431499
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....b7a5e26f69f7bde9404dfbfec9cc7572
Database: OpenAIRE
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