Aquatic sample analysis system

1. An aquatic sample analysis system adapted for in situ use, the system comprising:

an optically opaque incubation chamber forming an opening for receiving a fluidic sample;

a seal for sealing the opening;

an oxygen sensor capable of sensing an oxygen concentration associated with the sample inside the chamber in real time;

a control module in communication with the sensor and adapted to determine a gross respiration rate in daylight without influence of a production rate contribution and to repeatedly open and close the incubation chamber while in situ; and

a power source.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a tube with at least one open end covered by the seal.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one open end is sealable by a seal consisting of a spring-loaded cap.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the spring-loaded cap is biased toward a sealing position.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one open end is sealable with a valve, wherein the valve is capable of automatically and repeatedly opening and closing the incubation chamber when disposed.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one open end is sealable with a hinged cap.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an additional sensor for sensing at least one parameter associated with the fluidic sample, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of a nitrate concentration, a carbon dioxide concentration, and a pH.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a UV-based nitrate detector, a colorimetric carbon dioxide sensor, and a colorimetric pH sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is adapted to provide power to the sensor and receive a sensor output.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control module further stores the sensor output.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising an optically clear incubation chamber.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the clear chamber comprises a sensor for sensing at least one parameter associated with a sample inside the clear chamber.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen concentration, a nitrate concentration, a carbon dioxide concentration, and a pH.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control module is adapted to compare respective outputs of the clear chamber sensor and the opaque chamber sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control module is adapted to determine at least one of an instantaneous oxygen concentration, a gross respiration rate, a gross primary production rate, and a net primary production rate.

16. A method of analyzing an aquatic parameter in situ comprising the steps of:

deploying an aquatic sample analysis system to a location of interest;

obtaining a fluidic sample within an optically opaque incubation chamber at the location of interest;

measuring during daylight an oxygen concentration associated with the sample over an incubation period in situ;

calculating a gross respiration rate without influence of a production rate contribution; and

opening and closing repeatedly the incubation chamber while in situ to obtain additional fluidic samples.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the aquatic sample analysis system further comprises an incubation chamber comprising an optically clear portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein a portion of the fluidic sample is disposed in each incubation chamber.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the calculating step comprises:

calculating the gross respiration rate based at least in part on a rate-of-change of oxygen concentration in the optically opaque incubation chamber;

calculating a net primary production rate based at least in part on a rate-of-change of oxygen concentration in the optically clear incubation chamber; and

determining a gross primary production rate based thereon.

20. The method of claim 16 , further capably comprising:

releasing the fluidic sample repeatedly; and

obtaining a new fluidic sample repeatedly.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of adjusting incubation conditions, wherein the incubation conditions comprise at least one of sensor parameters and incubation times.