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Abstract
The relationship between measurements of phytoplankton cell volume (CV) and chlorophyll a (Chla) in the near surface waters (1 m) of 12 North Island lakes was investigated between January and December 1982 to determine the usefulness of Chla as a biomass indicator. A strong linear relationship was obtained between the two parameters (F = 262, n = 131) which explained 66% of the variation. There was a distinct seasonal trend, however, in the amount of chlorophyll a measured per unit algal cell volume (Chla/CV). Values of Chla/CV ranged between .1.9 and .12.4 μg.mm-1 and were generally high dunng the wlO.ter (interquartile range 6.6-10.5, n = 33) and low dunng the summer (interquartile range 2.8-3.9, n = 47). When this effect was taken into account, the explanatory power of the Chla-CV relationship increased to 78%. This relationship was not significantly affected by changes in phytopla~kton taxonomic composition (i.e., Bacillariophyceae Chlorophyceae, Dinophyceae), and reliably predicts either Chla or CV in other North Island lakes. Application of the predictive relation is discussed and further corroboration of the relation is encouraged.