Regional variation in the size composition of phytoplankton communities in the Western North Pacific Ocean, spring 1985

Abstract

AbstractThe size composition of phytoplankton communities as measured by chlorophyll a concentration was studied in the subarctic, transition, and subtropical waters of the North Pacific Ocean in spring 1985. Total chlorophyll a concentration observed in surface water was lowest in the subtropical water (0.05 ug · l−1) wherein percent contribution of the 10 um size fraction was large (61%). However, even though in the subarctic water, the size composition in the water of the low chlorophyll a concentration ( 10 um size fraction. Diatoms were the major phytoplankters in the >10 um size fraction that affected the regional and temporal variatio...