Primary and Bacterial Production in the Bransfield Strait (Antarctica) in Summer

Abstract

The spatial distribution of the main primary productivity parameters in the Bransfield Strait in the Antarctic summer presents. The integrated primary production in the strait varied from 435 to 741 mgC/m2 per day. The share of primary production in the total production of phyto- and bacterioplankton in the upper 10th layer was 82–91%. Potential photosynthetic capacity (Fv/Fm) was high within the euphotic layer (0.418–0.749) throughout the area. The production parameters in the two main water masses in the strait did not differ. Photosynthetic efficiency (the ratio of the assimilation number and the relative electron transport rate, AN/rETR) varied in different subregions of the study area by almost six times.