A MECHANISTIC MODEL OF THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE ON ALGAL PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY

In this work a model of algal primary productivity combining a mechani stic light function with a temperature Arrhenius function is presented . Data on primary productivity obtained with algae acclimated to diffe rent environmental conditions was used to test the model. A simple met hod for model parameter estimation based on regression analysis is des cribed. The parameter estimates can be improved by a non-linear least- squares method (e.g. the Gauss-Newton method) resulting in a significa nt fit to the observed data as tested by regression analysis. Accordin g to the present model, the initial slope of the productivity/light cu rves is temperature dependent whilst the optimal light intensity is te mperature independent. These model predictions were validated by the o btained experimental results.