Seasonal Variability of Plankton Production Parameters as the Basis for the Formation of Organic Matter Flow in the Southeastern Part of the Baltic Sea

Abstract

The seasonal dynamics of production processes in the Baltic Sea are poorly studied. The aim of our research was to study the seasonal features of primary productivity (including the balance with bacterial production) and its redistribution in plankton in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea in different seasons. More than 70% of primary production is formed in the 0–10 m layer (74–97% of the PP in the euphotic layer). In the same layer, PP accounted for almost 100% of the sum of primary and bacterial production in April and October, and almost 60% in June. Photosynthetic efficiency (PP/rETR) increased in June and October, demonstrating an increase in phytoplankton utilization of absorbed light energy. The depth-integrated values of PP, Chl a, bacterial, and phytoplankton biomasses were maximal in October. The maximum values of zooplankton biomass were determined in June, and they were significantly (5–14 times) higher than in other seasons. The maximum values of bacterial production were also in June.