The dynamics of the nanophytoplankton community in the coastal ecosystem of the Southern Bight (North Sea) during the winter–spring period

Abstract

The seasonal dynamics of the nanophytoplankton community (pelagic algae 2–20 μm) was studied at a location in the Southern Bight (North Sea) from October 1993 through May 1994. During the study period the cell number and biomass of the nanoalgae varied between 10 5–10 6 cells dm −3 and 16–300 μg wet weight dm −3. Several ecological events seem common to the boreal coastal nanophytoplankton communities in the winter–spring period. These are: (1) abrupt fall in abundance at the beginning of winter (late October–early November); (2) winter minimum (December–March); (3) steady increase in cell number and biomass (April–May); followed by (4) the spring maximum occurring usually in May.