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C/Chl-a ratios were determined for benthic diatom populations at 6 stations in the Ems estuary. For mixed field populations previous data are not available. Measurements were canied out over a period of nearly 3 years. The data were statistically analysed. Statistically significant differences in rat10 values were indicated within and between years. No indications were found for a statistically significant station effect upon the ratio values. The ratio values over the 3 year period investigated ranged from 10.2 up to 153.9 with yearly averages and standard deviations of 40.3 f 13.8; 41.2 f 20.4 and 61.4 -+ 22.0, respectively. It was concluded that chlorophyll a measurements in itself are insufficient to describe fluctuations in benthic diatom standing stock. Mechanisms possibly regulating the CIChl-a ratios are discussed.
VN de Jonge (Tue,) studied this question.