TY - JOUR T1 - Modelling the biogeochemical cycles of elements limiting primary production in the English channel .2. Sensitivity analyses A1 - Hoch,T A1 - Menesguen,Alain AD - IFREMER, CTR BREST, LAB CHIM & MODELISAT CYCLES NAT, DIRECT ENVIRONM & AMENAGEMENT LITTORAL, BP 70, F-29280 PLOUZANE, FRANCE. UR - https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00337/44791/ DO - 10.3354/meps146189 KW - English Channel KW - sensitivity analyses KW - ecological model N2 - A general framework for an ecological model of the English Channel was described in the first of this pair of papers. In this study, it was used to investigate the sensitivity of the model to various factors: model structure, parameter values, boundary conditions and forcing variables. These sensitivity analyses show how important quota formulation for phytoplankton growth is, particularly for growth of dinoflagellates. They also stress the major influence of variables and parameters related to nitrogen. The role played by rivers and particularly the river Seine was investigated. Their influence on global English Channel phytoplanktonic production seems to be relatively low, even though nutrient inputs determine the intensity of blooms in the Bay of Seine. The geographical position of the river Seine's estuary makes it important in fluxes through the Straits of Dover. Finally, the multi-annual study highlights the general stability of the English Channel ecosystem. These global considerations are discussed and further improvements to the model are proposed. Y1 - 1997/01 PB - Inter-research JF - Marine Ecology Progress Series SN - 0171-8630 VL - 146 IS - 1-3 SP - 189 EP - 205 ID - 44791 ER -