This multidisciplinary survey investigated the combined influence of riverine nutrient input, physical oceanography and monsoon season on water column primary production and nutrient cycling in east coast Peninsular Malaysia waters. Although the combined nutrient load of the regional rivers was similar to major rivers in the northern South China Sea, its influence on primary production was restricted to coastal stations. In the wet season (October–March) the higher riverine nutrient input and a generally well-mixed water column resulted in estimated primary production up to 82.9 μg C L⁻¹ h⁻¹. During the dry season (April–September) primary production (average 7.3 μg C L⁻¹ h⁻¹) was driven by locally upwelled nutrient input in offshore southern waters and Gulf of Thailand-derived input in offshore northern waters. Dry season decoupling of dissolved organic nutrient production and consumption in seasonally stratified offshore waters resulted in its accumulation with the potential to act as a nutrient reservoir. This study therefore provides new insights into how the interplay of physical processes, meteorology and nutrient source influence primary production and associated biogeochemical cycles in this understudied region.

这项多学科的调查研究了河流营养素输入，自然海洋学和季风季节对马来西亚东部沿海水域水柱初级生产和营养素循环的综合影响。尽管区域河流的总养分含量类似于南海北部的主要河流，但其对初级生产的影响仅限于沿海站点。在雨季（10月至3月），较高的河流养分输入和通常充分混合的水柱导致估计的一次产量高达82.9μgCL ^-1 h ^-1。在干旱季节（4月至9月），初级生产（平均7.3μgCL ^-1 h ^-1）是由南部沿海水域当地营养上升的输入和北部沿海水域来自泰国湾的营养输入驱动的。季节性分层离岸水域中溶解有机养分生产和消耗的旱季解耦导致其积累，有可能充当养分库。因此，这项研究提供了新的见解，以了解物理过程，气象学和养分来源之间的相互作用如何影响该研究不足地区的初级生产和相关的生物地球化学循环。