Eg. Durbin et al., SPRINGTIME NUTRIENT AND CHLOROPHYLL-A CONCENTRATIONS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF OF MAINE, Continental shelf research, 15(4-5), 1995, pp. 433-450
We report nutrient and phytoplankton pigment concentrations during thr
ee hydrographic surveys in the southwestern Gulf of Maine (GOM) during
the South Channel Ocean Productivity Experiment (SCOPEX). During the
first survey in mid-March 1988, winter conditions prevailed in the dee
per central waters of the survey area, with a deep mixed layer, high s
urface nutrient concentrations (NO3 > 8 mu M), and low Chl a concentra
tions (<0.5 mu g l(-1)). In shallower areas along the western flank of
the southwestern GOM and over Georges Bank, the spring bloom had begu
n with Chl a concentrations > 2 mu g l(-1). During the second survey i
n late April 1988, the spring bloom was declining in the southwestern
GOM, and considerable spatial heterogeneity in the stage of the bloom
and the levels of nutrients occurred. Near the sill of the Great South
Channel, and east of Cape Cod where a low salinity surface plume had
stabilized the water column, nutrient and phytoplankton concentrations
were low (NO3 < 0.5 mu g M, chl a 1-2 mu g l(-1)). In the deeper offs
hore waters in some areas, the bloom still continued (NO3 1-2 mu M, Ch
l a > 4 mu g l(-1)), while in the northewastern part of the study area
it had just begun (NO3 > 5 mu M, Chl a 1-2 mu g l(-1)). The spring bl
oom had terminated throughout the southwestern GOM during the third su
rvey in early June 1989. A low salinity surface plume that entered the
study area along the western flank extended east from Cape Cod to Geo
rges Bank, resulting in a strong pycnocline at 15-20 m. Nutrient and p
hytoplankton concentrations in the surface plume were low in the deepe
r central region of the survey area (NO3 <0.25 mu M, Chl a < 1 mu g l(
-1)). Beneath this surface plume, subsurface maxima of ammonia and Chl
a occurred (NH3 > 2 mu M, Chl a > 1 mu g l(-1)). Over Nantucket Shoal
s and Georges Bank, the water column was well mixed due to enhanced ti
dal dissipation, resulting in higher nutrient and phytoplankton concen
trations. The nutrient and phytoplankton data collected in these hydro
graphic surveys suggest that phytoplankton abundance during spring is
controlled by seasonal hydrographic changes. These observations do not
support the SCOPEX hypothesis that dense surface aggregations of the
copepod Calanus finmarchicus in this region in late spring are due to
unusually high phytoplankton productivity.