Phytoplankton species and abundance in response to eutrophication in coastal marine mesocosms

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

12-1-1989

Abstract

In a mesocosm nutrient enrichment experiment the species (or categories) and abundances of diatoms, dinoflagellates, flagellates, monads and ciliates were identified and counted over a 16-month period. Diatoms and ciliates increased with increasing nutrient treatment while monads and flagellates, <10 μm in size, did not. By contrast, in the field diatoms sometimes appeared to decrease while small phytoplankton μ10 μm appeared to increase under eutrophic conditions. In the experiment, in some instances, grazing controlled abundances to low levels in nutrient-enriched treatments. Self-shading by phytoplankton limited upper levels of abundance when nutrients were excessive. While nuisance species were occasionally present in various nutrient treatments, the intensity and frequency of their presence did not tend to increase with nutrient treatment. Generally species (or categories) did not appear to change with nutrient treatment. © 1989 IRL Press Limited.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Plankton Research

Volume

11

Issue

6

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