Abstract
This paper describes a model of the diffusive boundary-layer around anaquatic macrophyte blade. Nutrient uptake at the base of the modelledboundary-layer was examined using previously published laboratory data. Theanalysis showed that, over the outer velocity range 0.01–0.16ms−1, nutrient uptake varied between that predicted byflat-plate boundary-layer theory and that expected with no mean advection. Aratio of theoretical and actual nutrient uptake rates was defined as a meansof categorising the transition between the two transport models. Themodelling was extended to show how fluctuating boundary conditions mayenhance nutrient uptake by the macrophyte; the scenario examined heresuggested that at otherwise low outer velocities, periodic stripping of theboundary-layer by passing waves increased nutrient uptake by a factor of 10.
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Stevens, C.L., Hurd, C.L. Boundary-layers around bladed aquatic macrophytes. Hydrobiologia 346, 119–128 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002914015683
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002914015683