New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Winter phytoplankton and microzooplankton populations off the coast of Westland, New Zealand, 1979

F. H. CHANG

New Zealand Oceanographic Institute Division of Marine and Freshwater Science Department of Scientific and Industrial Research P.O. Box 12-346 Wellington North, New Zealand

Abstract In a survey of the composition and spatial distribution of phytoplankton and microzooplankton populations in the upper water column off the coast of Westland in winter, the abundance of different groups of phytoplankton varied markedly. Diatoms were generally most common in neritic waters. Phytoflagellates were concentrated in the seaward part of the mixed coastal waters landward of the S=35 isohaline, and dinoflagellates (mainly non-thecate forms) were most plentiful away from the coast. Phytoflagellates were recorded for the first time off the coast of Westland. Although phytoflagellates (1.5-14.5 |xm long) were most abundant, thecate and non-thecate dinoflagellates contributed most to the estimated cell carbon, especially at offshore stations. Diatoms were the least plentiful group of phytoplankton except at 1 nearshore station. The vertical stability of the water column is considered to be the most important factor in determining the relative abundance of phytoplankton species.

Keywords winter; phytoplankton; zooplankton; population density; diatoms; dinoflagellates; phytoflagellates; upwelling; cell carbon; west coast; South Island; river discharge; coastal zone; seasons

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1983, Vol. 17 : 279-304 0028-8330/83/1703-0279S2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1983 Received 5 January 1983

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2561K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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