Modeling plankton production in the Eastern Mediterranean: Application of a 1-D vertically-resolved physical-biological model to the Ionian and Rhodes basins

A one dimensional, coupled physical-biological model is used to study the b iological production characteristics of the Rhodes and western lonian basin s of the Eastern Mediterranean. The biological model involves single aggreg ated compartments of phytoplankton, zooplankton, detritus as well as ammoni um and nitrate forms of the inorganic nitrogen. The model simulations point to the importance of the contrasting dynamical characteristics of these tw o basins on affecting their yearly planktonic structures. The western lonia n basin is shown to possess only 10% of the Rhodes' productivity and theref ore represent a most oligotrophic site in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Rh odes basin reveals a strong bloom in early spring, typically in March, a we aker bloom in early winter, typically in January, and a subsurface producti on below the seasonal thermocline during summer. This structure is slightly modified in the western lonian basin, and the early winter and early sprin g blooms are merged to cover the entire winter. These results are supported favorably by the available observations both in their magnitudes and timin g.