On the interest of using field primary production data to calibrate phytoplankton rate processes in ecosystem models. Grangeré, K., Lefebvre, S., Ménesguen, A., & Jouenne, F. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 81:169-178, 2009.
abstract   bibtex   
In many ecosystem models based on empirical formulations, parameters generally are calibrated in order to achieve the best fit between measured and simulated chlorophyll a standing stocks. An accurate calibration of rate processes as primary production rarely is taken into account. In this paper, we test the usefulness of calibration of phytoplankton photosynthetic processes in an ecosystem model using field primary production data. We used 18 months of photosynthetic process data from the Baie des Veys ecosystem (France, Normandy). First, we fit different empirical formulations of primary production models against the photosynthesis - irradiance curves measured in the bay. The best simulation of the Baie des Veys primary production was obtained from the Smith (1936) equation. Variability of photosynthetic parameters was considered depending on environmental factors (temperature and nutrient availability). Model parameters (i.e. the light-saturated rate of photosynthesis (PBmax), the initial slope of the photosynthesis-light curve (αB), and the half-saturation constant for nutrient uptake (KS)) were estimated using field data. Next, the Smith equation and estimated parameters were introduced in an ecosystem box model. The parameters estimated from data lead directly to a satisfactory representation of the Baie des Veys phytoplankton dynamics without additional calibration. Therefore, our approach contrasts with the more classical approach in which ecosystem models require a free calibration of the main parameters. Furthermore, for the two years studied, annual primary production estimated through the ecosystem model was 13 and 26 % higher with our approach than with the classical approach. This work emphasizes the importance of accurately representing rate processes in ecosystem models in order to adequately simulate production as well as standing stocks.
@article{
 title = {On the interest of using field primary production data to calibrate phytoplankton rate processes in ecosystem models},
 type = {article},
 year = {2009},
 keywords = {SBR_Phyto_DPO,primary production models, photosynthesis-irradian},
 pages = {169-178},
 volume = {81},
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 created = {2015-11-02T11:41:40.000Z},
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 last_modified = {2016-06-16T13:23:05.000Z},
 tags = {2009,sbr_phyto_dipo},
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 source_type = {Journal Article},
 notes = {Submitted in July 2008},
 abstract = {In many ecosystem models based on empirical formulations, parameters generally are calibrated in order to achieve the best fit between measured and simulated chlorophyll a standing stocks. An accurate calibration of rate processes as primary production rarely is taken into account. In this paper, we test the usefulness of calibration of phytoplankton photosynthetic processes in an ecosystem model using field primary production data. We used 18 months of photosynthetic process data from the Baie des Veys ecosystem (France, Normandy). First, we fit different empirical formulations of primary production models against the photosynthesis - irradiance curves measured in the bay. The best simulation of the Baie des Veys primary production was obtained from the Smith (1936) equation. Variability of photosynthetic parameters was considered depending on environmental factors (temperature and nutrient availability). Model parameters (i.e. the light-saturated rate of photosynthesis (PBmax), the initial slope of the photosynthesis-light curve (αB), and the half-saturation constant for nutrient uptake (KS)) were estimated using field data. Next, the Smith equation and estimated parameters were introduced in an ecosystem box model. The parameters estimated from data lead directly to a satisfactory representation of the Baie des Veys phytoplankton dynamics without additional calibration. Therefore, our approach contrasts with the more classical approach in which ecosystem models require a free calibration of the main parameters. Furthermore, for the two years studied, annual primary production estimated through the ecosystem model was 13 and 26 % higher with our approach than with the classical approach. This work emphasizes the importance of accurately representing rate processes in ecosystem models in order to adequately simulate production as well as standing stocks.},
 bibtype = {article},
 author = {Grangeré, Karine and Lefebvre, Sébastien and Ménesguen, Alain and Jouenne, Fabien},
 journal = {Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science}
}

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