The dynamics of the nanophytoplankton community in the coastal ecosystem of the Southern Bight (North Sea) during the winter-spring period

The seasonal dynamics of the nanophytoplankton community (pelagic algae 2-2 0 mu m) was studied at a location in the Southern Eight (North Sea) from Oc tober 1993 through May 1994. During the study period the cell number and bi omass of the nanoalgae varied between 10(5)-10(6) cells dm(-3) and 16-300 m u g wet weight dm(-3). Several ecological events seem common to the boreal coastal nanophytoplankton communities in the winter-spring period. These ar e: (1) abrupt fall in abundance at the beginning of winter (late October-ea rly November); (2) winter minimum (December-March); (3) steady increase in cell number and biomass (April-May); followed by (4) the spring maximum occ urring usually in May. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.