The Growth of Arctic Marine Phytoplankton in Frobisher Bay

Authors

  • Stephen I.C. Hsiao

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic2104

Keywords:

Phytoplankton, Plant growth, Frobisher Bay, Nunavut

Abstract

During the summers of 1977 and 1978, populations of phytoplankton collected in Frobisher Bay at depths of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 m were enclosed in dialysis bags and incubated in situ at the depths from which they were collected. The greatest growth rate of the populations occurred at 10 m in July-August 1977 and at 5 m in late August-early September 1978. Exponential growth rates and generation times of dominant species of phytoplankton are tabulated. Growth rates ranged from 0.06 to 1.12 division/day and generation times varied from 21.4 to 404.7 hr/division. Light appears to be the major limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in this area; nutrients, temperature and salinity were not limiting in this experiment.

Key words: growth rates, generation times, arctic marine phytoplankton, limiting factors

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Published

1985-01-01