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The seasonal cycle of the phytoplankton in the coastal waters of Ghana

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Abstract

Seasonal changes in the phytoplankton at four depths off Tema, Ghana were investigated between September 1973 and November 1974. The physico-chemical factors show that there are two marine seasons, the season of major upwelling (July–October), characterized by low water temperatures (< 25°C), high salinity (> 35‰) and high nutrient levels, and a non-upwelling period (November–June) when water temperatures are higher and salinity and nutrients are lower. The latter marine season is broken by a small, unpredictable upwelling (December-January). Phytoplankton cell counts are high (> 1000 × 103 cells/1) during the major upwelling period and can be very low (< 2 × 103 cells/1) during the non-upwelling period. Dinoflagellates form the main components of the phytoplankton population during the nonupwelling period and diatoms form the dominant components at other times. There is a close relationship between the physicochemical factors and the phytoplankton population especially during the major upwelling period. For example there is a good correspondence between the peaks in phytoplankton numbers and low levels of nutrients such as silicate, nitrate and phosphate with the reverse taking place at other times.

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  1. Fisheries Research Unit, P.O. Box B-62, Tema, Ghana

    Emelia R. Anang

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  1. Emelia R. Anang
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Anang, E.R. The seasonal cycle of the phytoplankton in the coastal waters of Ghana. Hydrobiologia 62, 33–45 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012560

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