An annual cycle of phytoplankton, with special reference to the diatoms and armored dioflagellates at Logy and Robin Hood Bays, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, February, 1970-January, 1971

Lin, Yi-Hung (1972) An annual cycle of phytoplankton, with special reference to the diatoms and armored dioflagellates at Logy and Robin Hood Bays, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, February, 1970-January, 1971. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

During the period of February 1970 to January 1971, a qualitative and quantitative investigation of the phytoplankton population, with particular reference to the diatoms and armored dinoflagellates, was carried out at Logy and Robin Hood Bays on the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland. -- Samples were collected at three depths in the bays and from the pumphouse of the Marine Sciences Research Laboratory. Related physical factors: water temperatures, Secchi disc readings, weather conditions, sea states and monthly total hours of bright sunshine, were simultaneously determined. -- Water samples preserved in Lugol's solution were examined by the sedimentation method using an inverted microscope. Net samples were examined for forms which might be missing from the water samples. -- The annual cycle of phytoplankton pattern found was as follows: a very low winter population of diatoms, dino flagellates, and other flagellates was replaced by a large population of diatoms (mainly species of Chaetoceros and Thalassiosira) during the spring bloom. With a reduction in numbers and species of diatoms in the late spring, the phytoplankton population became low and irregular during the summer and autumn and consisted mainly of naked dinoflagellates and Cryptomonas sp. -- Generally speaking, the vertical distribution of diatoms was variable at the three depths sampled, while largest numbers of dinoflagellates and other flagellates were found mainly in the upper water layers. -- The seasonal and vertical distribution of phytoplankton abundance was related to such physical factors as water temperature, solar radiation and stability of the water column. -- During the warm season the alternate increase and decrease of the phytoplankton population appeared to be due to the material examined, the methods employed and such local factors as water movements and run-off which might bring about varying growth conditions of these organisms. The phytoplankton was found to differ in numbers and species between bay and pumphouse waters because these sampling locations represented different ecological conditions of water movements and algal flora.

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