Abstract
Microphytoplankton populations were studied in shallow coastal water (<60 m) near the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF) and three reference areas in Admiralty Bay in early and late summer (2002–2003). Phytoplankton was diverse (113 taxa), but not abundant (103 cells l−1). The highest abundances (>104 cells l−1) were caused by pennate benthic diatoms (Fragilaria striatula Lyngbye) that occurred mainly in early summer, associated with the presence of ice. In late summer, when the water temperature (−0.4 to 1.5°C), salinity (34 to 35), and phosphate (2.6 to 4.5 μmol l−1) were highest and the dissolved oxygen was lowest (6.4 to 2.9 ml l−1), centric diatoms (Thalassiosira spp.) were more abundant, suggesting an influence of oceanic waters. Phytoplankton abundance (≤102 cells l−1) and chlorophyll a concentrations (0.22 μg l−1) were lowest close to EACF. Pennate diatoms were dominant close to shore and in surface waters elsewhere, probably because of ice melting or sediment resuspension caused by water mixing.
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Acknowledgments
This project is part of a Research Network dedicated to local environmental impact studies in Admiralty Bay, funded primarily by the Brazilian Ministry of Environment (MMA), Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), and National Research Council (CNPq). We are thankful to the logistical support provided by Interministerial Secretary for the Sea Resources (SECIRM). We thank Dr. Rosalinda Montone (IO-USP) for the oxygen analysis, Vitor Chiozzini and Glaucia Berbel (IOUS-USP) for the salinity and nutrients analysis, Dr. Rodolfo Paranhos (UFRJ) for the chlorophyll a analysis, and Rafael B de Moura for drawing the map of Admiralty Bay. We are also very grateful to Dr. Silvia Nascimento (UENF), Dr. Frederico Brandini (UFPR), Dr. Elzbieta Kopczýnska and two other unidentified reviewers for their useful suggestions to this manuscript, and to Alberto Bezerril and Martha Villac for the English review.
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Lange, P.K., Tenenbaum, D.R., de Santis Braga, E. et al. Microphytoplankton assemblages in shallow waters at Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica) during the summer 2002–2003. Polar Biol 30, 1483–1492 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0309-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0309-8