Seasonal abundance of the microplankton population in the North Pacific central gyre

Abstract

Population structure as numerical and biomas abundance was determined for the microplankton (∼ to 200 μm organisms) sampled throughout and just below the euphotic zone at five times of year other than fall in the North Pacific central gyre around 28°N, 155°W. Average total microplankton carbon of all strata varied by twofold or less over the cruises, conforming to the hypothesis of low heterogeneity of biomass in central oceanic gyral populations. For example, mean euphotic zone abundance ranged from 5.9 μg Cl −1 (late winter) to 10.5 μg Cl −1 (spring), averaging 7.9 μg Cl −1. Its variability and that of stations within cruises were similar. Microplankton did not show a maximum correlated with the chlorophyll α maximum seen near the base of the euphotic zone when there was thermal stratification within the euphotic zone. Nanoplankters consistently dominated the population. ‘Monads and flagellates’ and non-thecate dinoflagellates were the most abundant groups. Diatoms in the upper waters where temperature range was the widest were the most temporally variable. Statistically significant differences in the biomass of taxonomic groups between cruises were found in relatively few of the possible instances tested.