Distribution of phytoplankton in the East China Sea in the winter of 1993

Abstract

Phytoplankton distribution and its relationship to water masses were investigated in the East China Sea from February 15 to March 10, 1993. Diatoms, dinoflagellates and coccolithophorids were examined by the Utermöhl method. Two distinct phytoplankton assemblages were identified: a shelf and oceanic assemblage. The shelf community was characterized by a high abundance of diatoms, particularly, a benthic diatomParalia sulcata, and the oceanic community by numerical dominance of coccolithophorids and occurrence of surface warm-water species of diatoms. A boundary of both communities was located at the shelf edge that coincided with the shelf side of a Kuroshio front.P. sulcata was the most dominant in the inner shelf area throughout the water column. The occurrence of this species near the surface was considered to be a good indicator of the enhanced vertical mixing driven by winter monsoon. The species survives under extremely low light intensity near the bottom during the stratified periods in summer. During the winter time when light condition at the bottom becomes most unfavorable, resuspension and upward traveling of the species due to enhanced vertical mixing seem to be advantageous to acquire suitable light condition. Because of its predominance, possible importance ofP. sulcata is suggested in material cycling on the shelf, particularly near the bottom.