Phytoplankton composition and biomass during leg 7 of Galathea 3 cruise across the southern Indian Ocean ...

• Main Authors: Schlüter, Louise, Henriksen, Peter, Nielsen, Torkel Gissel, Jakobsen, Hans Henrik
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2011
• Subjects: International Polar Year 2007-2008 IPY; Antarc*; Antarctic; International Polar Year; IPY; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.835238; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.835238

Phytoplankton composition and biomass was investigated across the southern Indian Ocean. Phytoplankton composition was determined from pigment analysis with subsequent calculations of group contributions to total chlorophyll a (Chl a) using CHEMTAX and, in addition, by examination in the microscope. The different plankton communities detected reflected the different water masses along a transect from Cape Town, South Africa, to Broome, Australia. The first station was influenced by the Agulhas Current with a very deep mixed surface layer. Based on pigment analysis this station was dominated by haptophytes, pelagophytes, cyanobacteria, and prasinophytes. Sub-Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean were encountered at the next station, where new nutrients were intruded to the surface layer and the total Chl a concentration reached high concentrations of 1.7 µg Chl a/L with increased proportions of diatoms and dinoflagellates. The third station was also influenced by Southern Ocean waters, but located in a ... : Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150 ...