Primitive Equation Modelling ofPlankton Ecosystems
b)
Nitrogen roooentration
10
15
fi
10
15
~20
~20
~
e
6~
6~
~ w'IIIl~.~~~~"illil\l~ 30
35
40
393
35
40
45
ID
45
ID ~~~~~~~~~~~~LtI
15
-20
E
~25
1
030
35
40
GlBZi Ag rate
41>
OO ~--~~~~~--~~~~~l
Fig. 18.3 (continued) b) Vertical distribution of dissolved nitrogen, phytoplankton and
grazing rate during the period of summer oligotrophy (June to September).
18.8 Population Ecology
18.8.1 Steele's dilemma
The extensive literature on theoretical ecology (e.g. May 1981) is mainly concemed with modelling spatial pattems and temporal changes in terrestrial ecosystems. Steele (1995) has drawn attention to the failure ofbiological oceanographers
and limnologists to adopt the sophisticated concepts and methods that have been
developed in terrestrial population ecology. He suggests that the lack of transference between the two communities of researchers arose from the fact that ecosystems are fundamentally different on land and in the sea. If so, then the reason must
be that fluid motion plays a dominant role in the population dynamics of Iife in the