Differences in Ecosystem Dynamics between the Northern and Southern Parts of the Japan Sea: Analyses with Two Ecosystem Models

Author： Onitsuka Goh Yanagi Tetsuo

Publisher： Springer Publishing Company

ISSN： 0916-8370

Source： Journal of Oceanography, Vol.61, Iss.3, 2005-06, pp. : 415-433

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Abstract

Differences in ecosystem dynamics between the northern and southern parts of the Japan Sea have been investigated with two nitrogen based ecosystem models forced by climatological mixed layer depth and euphotic layer depth. Models having 4 and 9 compartments with the same biochemical parameters were applied to the northern and southern parts. The spring bloom in the southern part is earlier and smaller than that in the northern part according to both models, which is supported by satellite ocean color images. The difference of the timing is related to the variation of mixed layer depth, and the magnitude of blooming is also related to the concentrations of surface nutrient and herbivorous zooplankton in early spring. The simulated seasonal variations of ecosystem characteristics (standing stock of each compartment, primary production and the ratio of export flux of organic particles to the primary production) are not significantly different between two models. The ratio of export flux of organic particles to the primary production are about 36% and 23% in the northern and southern parts according to the 4-compartment model, while the values are 31% and 18% by 9-compartment model. These results suggest that the biological pump in the northern part is more active than that in the southern part of the Japan Sea. Sensitivity analyses have been carried out to examine the differences of the response to the models.