Tintinnid diversity in surface waters was investigated in the Bay of Villef
ranche in March, before the formation of the seasonal thermocline, and in M
ay, following water column stratification. Tintinnid abundance was much gre
ater in March (500 cells l(-1)), corresponding to a bloom of Stensomella ni
valis, compared to May (30 cells l(-1)). Nonetheless, high numbers of speci
es were encountered on both dates: 32 in March and 39 in May, respectively.
Diversity was higher (H' = 2.5) for the May date with low tintinnid concen
trations. We examined taxonomic diversity and morphological diversity. Vari
ance of lorica length was correlated with taxonomic diversity, in contrast
to variance of lorica diameter, which was nearly invariant. We suggest that
either species with similar lorica diameters exploit different prey items
or competition for prey items is not the dominant factor in structuring tin
tinnid communities.