Spatial and temporal variation in community composition and photosynthetic characteristics of phytoplankton in the upper Westerschelde estuary (Belgium, SW Netherlands)
Rijstenbil, J.W.; Bakker, C.; Jackson, R.H.; Merks, A.G.A.; Visscher, P.R.M. (1993). Spatial and temporal variation in community composition and photosynthetic characteristics of phytoplankton in the upper Westerschelde estuary (Belgium, SW Netherlands). Hydrobiologia 269-270(1): 263-273. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00028025
Community composition, biomass and primary production of phytoplankton were studied in the easternmost section of the Westerschelde estuary in 1984. Photosynthetic characteristics were compared with distribution of some dominant phytoplankton species along a salinity gradient from 5 to 22 parts per thousand. Spring phytoplankton, with Cyclotella meneghiniana (freshwater) and Skeletonema costatum (marine) as the dominant species grew faster than summer phytoplankton. In summer, biomass achieved its maximum, due to the riverine Scenedesmus species and the marine diatoms Thalassiosira levanderi and Ditylum brightwellii, as dominants. Growth conditions were more favourable to phytoplankton communities above 15 parts per thousand, than below this salinity. The data were compared with previous studies (1972) of species composition in the area.
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