The first two maps in Figure 8 illustrate the distributions of parameters generally characterizing the photosynthetic predispositions of the Baltic basins. Figure 8a shows the range of GSK126 price the euphotic zone in which photo-synthesis takes place, calculated according to the optical criterion (the depth to which 1% of the irradiance PAR(z = 0) penetrates) with respect to the irradiance crossing the sea

surface (see e.g. Woźniak & Dera 2007). Figure 8b shows the distributions of the photosynthetic index in the Baltic, i.e. the parameter defining the part of the solar radiation PAR entering the water that is consumed in the photosynthesis of organic matter. It is thus the ratio of the radiant energy flux consumed in primary production under unit surface area of the water column PSR to the radiant energy flux PAR(0) entering the water. The next three maps in Figure 8 show the

distributions of parameters characterizing in a way the condition of phytoplankton resulting from their physiological state, in particular those parameters describing their potential photosynthetic abilities. Figure 8c Selleckchem Trichostatin A shows the distributions of the maximum quantum yield of carbon fixation characteristic of a basin. They define the maximum possible ratios of the number of atoms (or moles) of photosynthetically assimilated carbon to the number (or moles) of quanta of solar radiation absorbed under given conditions by phytoplankton pigments (Ficek 2001, Ficek et al. 2000). These maximum values are attained at very low irradiances in the sea and are recorded at great depths. The

second magnitude characterizing the condition of phytoplankton is the phytoplankton assimilation number – see Figure 8d. This defines the maximum possible rate of photosynthesis in waters of a given trophic type (for a fixed amount of nutrients in those waters and Pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 1 a particular sea water temperature) expressed in numbers of atoms or moles of carbon assimilated in unit time by phytoplankton of unit chlorophyll content. Such maximum rates of photosynthesis are usually recorded at intermediate (photosynthetically optimal) depths, at which irradiance levels are still sufficiently high not to limit the rate of light reactions, yet not so high that destructive photoinhibition of the photosynthetic apparatus comes into play (Majchrowski 2001, Ficek 2001, Woźniak & Dera 2007). In the Baltic such optimal conditions usually (in ca 66% of cases) prevail at depths from 1 to 5 m (see Woźniak et al. 1989). The last of these maps (Figure 8e) shows the distribution of the non-photosynthetic pigment factor, determined for plant communities in Baltic surface waters, that is, in the water layer most exposed to photoinhibitory processes (Woźniak et al. 2007a). Usually ranging in value from 0.5 to 1.