FLUORESCENT ANALYSIS OF PIGMENT COMPOSITION OF NATURAL PHYTOPLANKTON

The techniques of Selective Excitation of Phytoplankton Pigments (SEPP ) is used to analyze pigment composition of mixed phytoplankton commun ity in remote mode. Such an approach involves the creation of a basic spectral signature catalogue of the most important phytoplankton, spec ies and the comparative analysis of the laser induced fluorescence of natural water with the basic catalogue. The results of laser remote se nsing of brackish-water phytoplankton on board a research vessel are p resented. Field data of induced fluorescence of phytoplankton obtained during several experiment from 1991 to 1993 in the Gulfs of the Balti c Sea are compared with the results of laboratory analysis of water sa mples by fluorescence and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC ). The calibration of phytoplankton fluorescence by pigment concentrat ion is discussed.