| The study aimed at quantifying the spatio-temporal evolution of microphytobenthic biomass in intertidal mudflats of Marennes-Oléron Bay. To reach this goal, a dynamic model has been proposed, including processes of primary production, active migration of epipelic diatoms and biomass lasses due to mortalities on one hand and resuspension in the water column during submersion on the other hand. The spatialisation is given by a hydrodynamic madel which calculates the water height everywhere. The photic environment of microphytobenthos is described in a discrete way, by means of two layers: the biofilm of epipelic algae « S »on the top of the sediment and the fust centimeter of the mud « F ». The endogenous vertical migration rhythm of epipelic algae controls... |
