Diel, Tidal and Vertical Variations of Phytoplankton and Its Environment in Frobisher Bay

Authors

  • Stephen I.C. Hsiao

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic1411

Keywords:

Animal reproduction, Chlorophyll, Diatoms, Marine ecology, Ocean currents, Oceanography, Phytoplankton, Plant distribution, Plant ecology, Plant taxonomy, Primary production (Biology), Tides, Biomass, Frobisher Bay, Nunavut

Abstract

Phytoplankton were collected and environmental measurements made at depths of 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20 and 30 m at 3 h intervals through a tidal cycle in the summer in Frobisher Bay. Light, temperature, salinity and nutrients varied vertically. Concentration of chlorophyll a, species composition, number of species and diversity also exhibited a pronounced vertical variation, while phytoplankton cell numbers and the evenness of the variations in species diversity and evenness were minor under the existing environmental conditions, where only light fluctuated significantly. The integrated values of biomass, nutrients and mean temperature and salinity showed neither significant diel nor tidal variation.

Key words: arctic phytoplankton, biomass, species composition, abundance, diversity, environmental factors

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Published

1992-01-01