Abstract
In 1982 and 1983, blooms of the planktonic alga Phaeocystis pouchetii were studied in the East Frisian coastal waters off Norderney, FRG. Morphological variability of the colonies, population development, effects on inorganic nutrient and oxygen budget, and the role in the seasonal plankton bloom sequence were investigated. in both years two separate Ph. pouchetii blooms occurred in late spring and early summer that were formed by the “globosa-type” exclusively. The “pouchetii-type” was only present during the interval between the first and second blooms in 1982. Growth conditions for Ph. pouchetii seem to be most favourable after a breakdown of a diatom bloom when the silicate reserves have been exhausted, phosphate concentrations are relatively low, but a rich supply of dissolved inorganic nitrogen is available. Contrary to diatom blooms, Ph. pouchetii blooms result in a high production of particulate organic carbon (POC). Another characteristic is the release of great amounts of dissolved organic substances, which cause extensive sea foam formation during the peaks and the subsequent breakdown of the blooms. Due to increased assimilation during mass development and intense disintegration after the breakdown, variations of the oxygen content of the water are significant. Presumably the intensity of blooms has increased in the past decade as indicated by sea foam formation which has actually been excessive in some years.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Bennekom, A. J. van, W. W. C. Gieskes and S. B. Tijssen: Eutrophication of Dutch coastal waters. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 189, 359–374 (1975)
Berg, J. and G. Radach: Trends in nutrient and phytoplankton concentrations at Helgoland Reede (German Bight) since 1962. ICES C. M. 1985, L:2, 16 pp. (1985)
Boalch, G. J.: Algal blooms and their effects on fishing in the English Channel. Hydrobiologia 116/117, 449–452 (1984a)
Boalch, G. J.: Recent blooms in the western English Channel. ICES Special Meeting on the causes, dynamics and effects of exceptional marine blooms and related events. Copenhagen, 3 pp. 1984b
Boalch, G. J. and D. S. Harbour: Unusual diatom off the coast of southwest England and its effect on fishing. Nature, Lond. 269, 687–688 (1977)
Cadèe, G. C. and J. Hegeman: Primary production of phytoplankton in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 8, 240–259 (1974)
Cadèe, G. C. and J. Hegeman: Phytoplankton primary production, chlorophyll and composition in an inlet of the western Wadden Sea (Marsdiep). Neth. J. Sea Res. 13, 224–241 (1979)
Eberlein, K., M. J. Leal, K. D. Hammer and W. Hickel: Dissolved organic substances during a Phaeocystis bloom in the German Bight (North Sea). Mar. Biol. 89, 311–316 (1985)
Gieskes, W. W. C. and G. W. Kraay: The phytoplankton spring bloom in Dutch coastal waters of the North Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 9, 166–196 (1975)
Gieskes, W. W. C. and G. W. Kraay: Primary production and consumption of organic matter in the southern North Sea during the spring bloom of 1975. Neth. J. Sea Res. 11, 146–167 (1977a)
Gieskes, W. W. C. and G. W. Kraay: Continuous plankton records: changes in the plankton of the North Sea and its eutrophic Southern Bight from 1948 to 1975. Neth. J. Sea Res. 11, 334–364 (1977b)
Grasshoff, K.: Methods of seawater analysis, 317 pp. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie 1976
Grimm, N. and T. Weisse: Die Temperaturabhängigkeit des Wachstums von Phaeocystis pouchetii (Haptophyceae) in Batchkulturen. Helgoländer Meeresunters. 39, 202–211 (1985)
Guillard, R. R. L. and J. A. Hellebust: Growth and the production of extracellular substances by two strains of Phaeocystis pouchetii. J. Phycol. 7, 330–338 (1971)
Helder, W.: The cycle of dissolved inorganic nitrogen compounds in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 8, 154–173 (1974)
Hickel, W.: Seston in the Wadden Sea of Sylt (German Bight, North Sea). Neth. Inst. Sea Res. Publ. Ser. 10, 113–131 (1984)
Jones, P. G. W. and S. M. Haq: The distribution of Phaeocystis in the Eastern Irish Sea. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 28, 8–20 (1963)
Joiris, C., G. Billen, C. Lancelot, M. H. Daro, J. P. Mommaerts, A. Vertels, M. Bossicart and J. Nijs: A budget of carbon cycling in the Belgian coastal zone: relative roles of zooplankton, bacterioplankton and benthos in the utilization of primary production. Neth. J. Sea. Res. 16, 260–275 (1982)
Kayser, H.: Experimental-ecological investigations on Phaeocystis pouchetii (Haptophyceae): cultivation and waste water test. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 20, 195–212 (1970)
Kornmann, P.: Beobachtungen an Phaeocystis-Kulturen. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 5, 218–233 (1955)
Lancelot, C.: Factors affecting phytoplankton extracellular release in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 12, 115–121 (1983)
Martens, P.: On the Acartia species of the northern Wadden Sea of Sylt. Kieler Meeresforsch. Sonderh. 5, 153–163 (1981)
Mielck, W.: Southern North Sea 1931. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer Rapp. Proc. Verb. 81, 184–213 (1932)
Mielck, W.: Southern North Sea 1932. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer Rapp. Proc. Verb. 85, 31–49 (1933)
Newell, G. E. and R. C. Newell: Marine plankton. A practical guide, 221 pp. London: Hutchinson Educational Ltd 1963
Niemeyer, H. D.: Über den Seegang an einer inselgeschützten Wattenküste. Research Report of Bundesministerium f. Forschung u. Technologie, MF-0203. 264 pp. 1983
Savage, R. E.: The influence of Phaeocystis on the migration of the herring. Fish. Invest., Lond. (Ser. 2) 12, 5–14 (1930)
Scherffel, A.: Phaeocystis globosa nov. spec. nebst einigen Betrachtungen über die Phylogenie niederer, insbesondere brauner Organismen. Wiss. Meeresunters. Abt. Helgoland 4, (1), 1–29 (1900)
Sieburth, J. Mc N.: Acrylic acid, and “antibiotic” principle in Phaeocystis blooms in Antarctic waters. Science, Wash. D.C. 132, 676–677 (1960)
Strickland, J. D. H., O. Holm-Hansen, R. W. Eppley and R. J. Linn: The use of a deep tank in plankton ecology. I. Studies of the growth and composition of phytoplankton crops at low nutrient levels. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 23–24 (1969)
Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Fish. Res. Bd Can. Bull. 167, 1–311 (1968)
Weiss, J. and H. H. Lamb: On recent changes of the wind and wave regime of the North Sea and the outlook. Fachl. Mitt. Amtes Wehrgeophys. 194, 1–108 (1979)
Weisse, T.: Feeding of calanoid copepods in relation to Phaeocystis pouchetii blooms in the German Wadden Sea area off Sylt. Mar. Biol. 74, 87–94 (1983)
Weisse, T., N. Grimm and P. Martens: Phaeocystis pouchetii blooms in the German Wadden Sea off Sylt. ICES Special Meeting on the causes, dynamics and effects of exceptional marine blooms and related events. Copenhagen, 20 pp. 1984
Wellershaus, S. and M. Walter: Zur Bestimmung der suspendierten und der gelösten organischen Substanz in Küstengewässern. Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerhaven 18, 223–233 (1980)
Wulff, A.: Über Hydrochemie und Oberflächenplankton nebst Verbreitung von Phaeocystis in der Deutschen Bucht im Mai 1933. Ber. dt. Kommn. Meeresforsch. (N.F.) 7 (3), 229–236 (1934)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bätje, M., Michaelis, H. Phaeocystis pouchetii blooms in the East Frisian coastal waters (German Bight, North Sea). Marine Biology 93, 21–27 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428651
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428651