Abstract
The Delaware Bay is characterized as having greater nutrient and turbidity levels than the Chesapeake Bay. In reference to these differences, a one year study was conducted to identify any similarities and differences in the phytoplankton populations in these estuaries. The results indicated patterns of similarity in the diatom composition, with the total phytoplankton assemblage forming two site groups along a salinity gradient in each bay. These site groups were associated with stations located in the tidal fresh-oligohaline and meso-polyhaline regions of both estuaries. The seasonal concentrations of diatoms and total phytoplankton in both of these regions were higher in the Chesapeake Bay.
Subtle differences between the two estuaries include a more diversified and abundant assemblage of neritic phytoplankters (including dinoflagellates) are present in the lower Chesapeake Bay. In contrast, a diatom dominated community is more characteristic of Delaware Bay. It is suggested the entry of neritic species into lower regions of the estuaries was enhanced by the reduced amount of rainfall and flow rates that occurred during the study period. The greater success of neritic species in the Chesapeake Bay is attributed to the lower turbidity of that estuary compared to Delaware Bay.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP), 1969. Effects of power plants in the lower Delaware River Estuary. July 1968—June 1969. Special Report, Philadelphia, 55 pp.
Champ, M.A., G.A. Gould amp; W. Bozzo, 1980. Characterization of light extinction and attenuation in Chesapeake Bay, August, 1977. In V. Kennedy (ed.), Estuarine Perspectives. Academy Press, New York: 263–277.
Cloern, J., A. Alpine, B. Cole, R. Wong, J. Arthur amp; M. Ball, 1983. River discharge controls phytoplankton dynamics in the northern San Francisco Bay estuary. Estuar coast Shelf Sci. 16: 415–429.
Conomos, T. amp; D. Peterson, 1977. Suspended particle transport and circulation in San Francisco Bay: an overview. In M. Wiley (ed.), Estuarine processes, 2 Academic Press, New York: 82–97.
D’Elia, C., J. Sanders amp; W. Boynton, 1986. Nutrient enrichment studies in a coastal plain estuary: phytoplankton growth in large-scale, continuous cultures. Can J Fish aquat Sci. 43: 397–406.
Dunstan, W. amp; C. Moon, 1988. The chlorophyll peak in turbid very low salinity estuarine waters. J Phycology Abs Supple. 24: 13.
Fisher, T., L. Harding, D. Stanley amp; L. Ward, 1988. Phytoplankton, nutrients and turbidity in the Chesapeake, Delaware and Hudson Estuaries. Estuar coast Shelf Sci. 27: 61–93.
Harding, L., B. Meeson amp; T. Fisher, 1986. Phytoplankton production in two east coast estuaries: photosynthesis-light functions and patterns of carbon assimilation in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Estuar coast Shelf Sci. 23: 773–806.
Joint, I. amp; A. Pomroy, 1981. Primary production in a turbid estuary. Estuar coast Shelf Sci. 13: 303–316.
Malone, T., 1987. Nutrient limited phytoplankton production in the mesohaline reach of the Chesapeake Bay. Abs EOS 68: 1688.
Marshall, H., 1980. Seasonal phytoplankton composition in the lower Chesapeake Bay and Old Plantation Creek, Cape Charles, Virginia. Estuaries 3: 207–216.
Marshall, H., 1984. Phytoplankton distribution along the eastern coast of the USA. Part V. Seasonal density and cell volume patterns for the northeastern continental shelf. J Plankton Res. 6: 169–193.
Marshall, H., 1991. Preliminary results of phytoplankton composition, abundance and distribution in the lower Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program. Special Technical Report, Old Dominion University Research Foundation. Norfolk, Virginia, 117 pp.
Marshall, H. amp; R. Alden, 1990a. Spatial and temporal diatom assemblages and other phytoplankton within the lower Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A. In H. Simola (ed.), Proceedings of the 10th International Diatom Symposium. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein: 311–322.
Marshall, H. amp; R. Alden, 1990b. A comparison of phytoplankton assemblages and environmental relationships in three estuarine rivers of the lower Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries 13: 287–300.
Marshall, H. amp; M. Cohn, 1987. Phytoplankton distribution along the eastern coast of the USA Part VI Shelf waters between Cape Henry and Cape May. J Plankton Res. 9: 139–149.
Marshall, H. amp; R. Lacouture, 1986. Seasonal patterns of growth and composition of phytoplankton in the lower Chesapeake Bay and vicinity. Estuar coast Shelf Sci. 23: 115–130.
Meade, R., 1972. Transport and deposition of sediments in estuaries. In B. Nelson (ed.), Environmental Framework of Coastal Plain Estuaries. Geological Society of America Memoirs 138: 91–120.
Mulford, R. amp; J. Norcross, 1971. Species composition and abundance of net phytoplankton in Virginia coastal waters, 1963–1964. Chesapeake Sci. 12: 142–155.
Nichols, M., 1972. Sediments of the James River estuary, Virginia. Geol Soc Am Mem. 133: 169–212.
Patrick, R., 1973. Effects of power plants in the lower Delaware River estuary, July 1969-June 1970. Special Report, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 56 pp.
Pennock, J., 1985. Chlorophyll distributions in the Delaware estuary: regulation by light-limitation. Estuar coast Shelf Sci. 21: 711–725.
Pennock, J. amp; J. Sharp, 1986. Phytoplankton production in the Delaware Estuary: Temporal and spatial variability. Mar Ecol Prog Ser. 34: 143–155.
Postma, H., 1967. Sediment transport and sedimentation in the estuarine environment. Estuaries. 83: 37–44.
Sellner, K., 1987. Phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay: Role in carbon, oxygen and nutrient dynamics. In S. Majumdar, S. Hall amp; H. Austin (eds), Contaminant problems and management of living Chesapeake Bay resources. Pennsylvania Academy of Science, Philadelphia: 134–157.
Sharp, J., 1988. Trends in nutrient concentrations in the Delaware estuary. In S. Majumdar, E. Miller amp; L. Sage (eds), Ecology and restoration of the Delaware River Basin. Pennsylvania Academy of Science. Philadelphia: 77–92.
Watling, L., D. Bottom, A. Pembroke amp; D. Mauer, 1979. Seasonal variations in Delaware Bay phytoplankton community structure. Mar Biol. 52: 207–215.
Williams, W.T. amp; W. Stephenson, 1973. The analysis of three-dimensional data (sites x species x times) in marine ecology. J exp mar Biol Ecol. 11: 207–227.
Zabawa, C., 1978. Microstructure of agglomerated suspended sediments in the northern Chesapeake Bay. Science 202: 49–51.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this paper
Cite this paper
Marshall, H.G., Alden, R.W. (1993). A comparison of phytoplankton assemblages in the Chesapeake and Delaware estuaries (USA), with emphasis on diatoms. In: van Dam, H. (eds) Twelfth International Diatom Symposium. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 90. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3622-0_27
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3622-0_27
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4324-5
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-3622-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive