Hydrodynamical control of phytoplankton succession during the vernal light-limited phase in the Baltic Sea

Abstract

During the vernal light-limited phase most abundant spring bloom species can be divided into three successive groups, which grow rapidly under different environmental conditions: 1) monocellular autotrophic nanoflagellates; 2) small-cell centric diatoms; 3) other diatoms and dinoflagellates. Special attention should be paid to the growth phase of small autotrophic flagellates, which may fill an important ecological "niche' by affecting the total amount of inorganic nutrients incorporated into organic matter during the vernal bloom. -from Authors