Abstract
The phytoplankton development in the waters around Helgoland can be described as a function of the physical environment (derivates of the temperature). This is a consequence of the fundamental annual cycle regulated by the sun and, respectively, by dependent components. This simple statement can only give good results if the turbulent transport processes in the transition zone are considered. Investigations are impeded by the fact that the multiplication rate of the organisms is almost counterbalanced by losses that take place during the long lasting bloom. This situation is a product of the regional hydrography, whereby small changes in the environment on varied time scales influence the development of the population fundamentally. This becomes particularly clear when the numerical results of the exponential growth are examined. The dynamics of this complicated process can be seen best in the great annual differences of the phytoplankton maxima.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Anonymous, 1981. Tenth report of the joint panel on oceanographic tables and standards. The practical salinity scale 1978 and the international equation of state of seawater 1980.—Unesco tech. Pap. mar. Sci.36, 13–21.
Brandt, K., 1899. Ueber den Stoffwechsel im Meere.—Wiss. Meeresunters. (Kiel)4, 213–230.
Brandt, K., 1902. Ueber den Stoffwechsel im Meere. 2. Abhandlung.—Wiss. Meeresunters. (Kiel)6, 23–79.
Dickson, R. R., 1971. A recurrent and persistent pressure-anomaly pattern as the principal cause of intermediate-scale hydrographic variation in the European shelf seas.—Dt. hydrogr. Z.24, 97–119.
Gillbricht, M., 1955. Wucherungen von Phytoplankton in einem abgeschlossenen Hafenbecken.—Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters.5, 141–168.
Gillbricht, M., 1962. Die Frühjahrswucherung des Phytoplanktons in einem flachen Gezeitenmeer.—Kieler Meeresforsch.18, 151–156.
Gillbricht, M., 1983. Eme “red tide” in der südlichen Nordsee und ihre Beziehungen zur Umwelt.—Helgoländer Meeresunters.36, 393–426.
Gillbricht, M., 1988. Phytoplankton and nutrients in the Helgoland region.—Helgoländer Meeresunters.42, 435–467.
Gran, H. H. & Braarud, T., 1935. A quantitative study of the phytoplankton in the Bay of Funday and the Gulf of Maine (including observations on hydrography, chemistry and turbidity).—J. biol. Bd Can.1, 279–467.
Radach, G. & Bohle-Carbonell, M., 1990. Strukturuntersuchungen der meteorologischen, hydrographischen, Nährstoff- und Phytoplankton-Langzeitreihen in der Deutschen Bucht bei Helgoland.—Ber. Biol. Anst. Helgoland7, 1–425.
Sverdrup, H. U., 1953. On conditions for the vernal blooming of phytoplankton.—J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer18, 287–295.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gillbricht, M. Phytoplankton and the physical environment in the Helgoland region. Helgolander Meeresunters 48, 431–443 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02366256
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02366256