Peculiarities of summer phytoplankton spatial distribution in Onega Bay of the White Sea under local hydrophysical conditions

Abstract

The species composition and phytoplankton biomass, concentrations of chlorophyll “a” (Chl) and nutrients in the surface water layer, and accompanying hydrophysical conditions were studied in Onega Bay of the White Sea in June 2015. The temperature and salinity of surface water layer and the water column stability varied greatly in the bay. The nutrients' concentrations exceeded the limiting threshold necessary for the phytoplankton development. The phytoplankton abundance was relatively low, averaged as 13.46 ± 9.00 mg C/m3 (total phytoplankton biomass), 0.78 ± 0.43 mg/m3 (concentration of chlorophyll “a”), and 0.18 ± 0.27 mg C/m3 (picophytoplankton biomass). The highest phytoplankton biomass has been registered along the frontal zones. Three phytoplankton communities that differed significantly in their structure have been found.