Masters Thesis Defense " Pond and Lake Primary Production Calculator" by Colin Leong

Abstract

This work describes an implementation of a model for estimation of benthic and phytoplanktonic primary production in inland water bodies such as ponds or lakes.

The web application makes use of interpolation techniques to allow estimates of primary production using values for photosynthesis/irradiance parameters at only 5 depths. These estimates compare favorably in accuracy with estimates using values listed at over one hundred depths. Validation of the implementation was done by comparison with primary production results from the Northern Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research database.

Committee: Drs.Travis Doom, Advisor, Michael Raymer, and Yvonne Vadeboncoeur (Biological Sciences)