THE HYDROGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY OF A BLOOM OF THE COCCOLITHOPHORID EMILIANIA-HUXLEYI IN THE NORTHERN NORTH-SEA

In June/July 1994 a study was made of a small bloom of the coccolithop horid Emiliania huxleyi in an area of the North Sea to the east of the Shetland Islands. Observations on the hydrography of the study area i ndicated the bloom was associated with Atlantic water and was confined to an area in which a stable shallow mixed layer had formed. There wa s no evidence to suggest association of horizontal physical structure with the bloom development. High cell densities of >1-6 x 10(6) cells dm(-3), together with low concentrations of PIC (<50 mu g dm(-3)) and detached liths (2-3 x 10(4) liths (-3)) indicated that the bloom was s tudied at an early stage of development. Biochemical and physiological observations cm indicated active growth was taking place. The results presented are discussed in comparison with previous studies carried o ut in both oceanic and shelf seas. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.