VARIABILITY IN PHYTOPLANKTON PIGMENT COMPOSITION IN MERSIN BAY

Authors : Nebil Yücel, Zahit Uysal, Süleyman Tuğrul

Pages : 49-70

Doi:10.18864/TJAS201705

View : 34 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2017-01-23

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Phytoplankton pigment composition and associated biochemical insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(chlorophyll a , nitrate+nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, silicate ); and physical insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(temperature, salinity); parameters were studied seasonally in the river-fed eutrophic coastal and oligotrophic offshore waters of the Mersin Bay located on NE Mediterranean. Total chlorophyll a concentrations varied seasonally between 0.023 - 7.73 µg/l in the river fed coastal zone insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(salinity: 36.54-39.68);, exhibiting less seasonality in the offshore station insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.01 – 0.91 µg/l);. S even different phytoplankton taxa insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(namely d iatoms, cyanobacteria, prymnesiophytes, dinoflagellates, chlorophytes, chrysophytes, prochlorophytes);, determined by H igh Performance Liquid Chromatography insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(HPLC);, were consistently present in the coastal waters during 2008-2011. The predominant diatom and coccolithophorid taxa in the river-fed coastal waters were replaced by prokaryotic picoplankters insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(cyanobacteria & prochlorophytes); and prymnesiophytes in the offshore. Contribution of prokaryotic picoplankton and eukaryotic nanoflagellates to total chlorophyll insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(% 23 to 47 and % 28 to 43, respectively); increased by about 50% from the coastal to the offshore station. Contribution of large cells to total chlorophyll decreased from 49% to 10% towards offshore. Prochlorophytes were observed as the dominant group in relatively colder and darker deep waters. 
Keywords : Pigments, HPLC, phytoplankton, nutrients, northeastern Mediterranean

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