Abstract
The 14C primary production technique for the estimation of total phytoplanktonic primary production was applied to an estuary in South Carolina [USA]. Total phytoplanktonic producticn generally followed the annual temperature cycle and ranged from a low of 6.4 mgC/m2 h in Nov. to a high of 234 mgC/m2 h in Aug. Total annual production of phytoplankton was calculated to be 346 gC/m2. Over a year, the proportion of the release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from estuarine phytoplankton ranged from 3-55% of the total daily primary production. Inconsistencies in the amount of DOC measured are discussed relative to the experimental methods that were employed.