Species-specific productivity of Skeletonema costatum (Bacillariophyceae) in the inner part of Tokyo Bay

Abstract

The composition of red tides in Tokyo Bay varied with season; those during summer 1986 and 1987 were comprised almost entirely of Skeletonema costatum. Primary productivity by S. costatum ranged from 5.2-70.4% of total productivity; on an annual basis, its contribution was 18.8%, as revealed by species-specific photosynthetic rate (SSP). SSP of S. costatum normalized with cell volume, an indicator of growth activity, showed temporal variations as the specific composition of the red tides changed. Volume-specific SSP was high in the initial phase of the bloom, then decreased gradually with cell division, and reached a minimum at the peak of the bloom. The high volume-specific SSP was rather short-lived. -from Authors