Water-mass influences on summer Antarctic phytoplankton biomass and community structure

摘要: The association between the variability of phytoplankton biomass and community structure distribution water masses around Antarctic Peninsula were examined during austral summer 1993. Phytoplankton showed high variability, was dominated by an autotrophic flagellate (Cryptomonas sp.) that represented, on average, 91% total biomass. lowest biomasses associated with strongly mixed, saline, cold waters characteristic Weddell Sea mass, influenced ice melt from Bellingshausen Sea. highest found in confluence these masses, where a front develops. Community composition also differed among eukariotic picoplankton diatoms having their relative contribution to stations whereas abundance Cryptomonas sp. at waters. These results indicate mesoscale processes, determine mass distribution, are paramount importance controlling time space phytoplankton.