Antarctic phytoplankton assemblage in the western Bransfield Strait region, February 1993: composition, biomass, and mesoscale distribution

Abstract

This region shows complex patterns of water circulation due to mixing of diverse water masses. Physicochemical properties of the different water types should affect the distribution, biomass, and species composition of the phytoplankton assemblages. From measurements of upper ocean physical parameters and nutrients in combination with the data on composition, biomass, and distribution of the major phytoplankton species, it was found that mesoscale distributions of phytoplankton species reflect the physical conditions of the upper water column, particularly the profile of vertical stability of the water. -from Authors