Summer distribution of netphytoplankton in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean

Abstract

The surface distribution of netphytoplankton (>20 μm) in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean was investigated along two transects during early and late austral summer 1990/91. Sampling was under-taken at intervals of 60′ of latitude between 34° and 70°S for the analysis of nutrients and for the identification and enumeration of netphytoplankton. Peaks in total diatom abundances were recorded at the Antarctic Polar Front (APF), in the vicinity of the South Sand wich Islands, in the marginal ice zone and in the neritic waters of the Atlantic sector of Antarctica. Cluster analysis indicates the existence of two major zones between Southern Africa and Antarctica. Diatom abundance increased south of the Antarctic Polar From along both transects, which can be partially explained by gradients of silicate concentration. Small chain-forming species (e.g. Fragilariopsis kerguelensis and Nitzschia lineata) dominated the diatom assemblages in early summer, while larger species, such as Rhizosolenia hebetata f. semispina and Corethron criophilum, dominated late summer diatom assemblages. The predominance of typically ice-associated forms in early summer suggests that the release of epontic cells during ice melt provides the initial inoculum for the netphytoplankton biomass. These small diatoms are subsequently replaced by larger species.