Biomass and production characteristics of the first red tide noticed in Kuwait Bay, Arabian Gulf

Citation
Dvs. Rao et al., Biomass and production characteristics of the first red tide noticed in Kuwait Bay, Arabian Gulf, J PLANK RES, 21(4), 1999, pp. 805-810
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH
ISSN journal
01427873 → ACNP
Volume
21
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
805 - 810
Database
ISI
SICI code
0142-7873(199904)21:4<805:BAPCOT>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Observations on the first red tide off Kuwait, Arabian Gulf, yielded high b iomass [55.4-262.7 mu g chlorophyll (Chl) a l(-1)] and primary production ( 507.9-571.2 mu g C h(-1) l(-1)), comparable with some of the highest values reported. There were contrasting changes in the carbon assimilation ratios , composition of the phytoplankton and the contribution of nanoplankton (<2 0 mu m) between 11 and 12 May. On 11 May, carbon assimilation by nanoplankt on was 2.2 mu g C (pg Chl a)(-1) h(-1), but increased to 9.2 mu g C (mu g C hl a)(-1) h(-1) the following day. Nanoplankton contributed 56 and 9% of Ch l a and production, respectively, on 11 May, while net plankton (>20 mu m) accounted for >65% of the biomass and primary production on 12 May. Picopla nkton (<3 mu m) contributed <8% of Chl a and <3% of production. Frequent sa mpling will be necessary to capture such dynamic changes and ephemeral even ts in these waters.