Distribution of Phytoplankton Pigments in the Korea Strait

To investigate a phytoplankton community structure and its biomass distribution in the Korea Strait, phytoplankton pigments were quantitatively measured by HPLC method, with hydro-graphic conditions in August and October, 1996. The measured chi. a concentrations were in the range of 7.1-1,280.7 ng/1. Horizontal distribution pattern of chi. a in summer (August) was very different from that of autumn (October). High concentration of chi. a occurred near the coast with relatively low salinity (< 33%). Vertically, the highest concentrations of pigments at most of the stations were found near the surface and above the thermocline. The maximum concentration of chi. a in October was four times higher than in August. It was notable to measure relatively high concentration of chi. b up to 190.8 ng/1 in the study area, since chi. bcontaining green algae and prochlophytes have been ignored because of their minute size and sensitivity to common preservatives. Major carotenoids detected were fucoxanthin, zeaxanthin, 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, and prasinoxanthin. Diatoms were the dominant group with secondary important groups as pryrnnesiophytes and cyanobacteria for the biomass of phytoplankton for both cruises. The dominant species of diatoms in summer were Thalassiosira sp. and Chaetoceros peruvianus. As minor groups, prasinophytes, crysophytes, and cryptophytes were confirmed by their marker pigments and dinoflgellates by microscopical observation. Degradation products of chi. a was minor. Interestingly, at 200 m depth of St A4, the deepest station in the western channel of the Korea Strait, substantial amounts of chi. a including fucoxanthin, 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, chi. b, and degradation products of chi. a was measured from both cruises. Higher concentration (2-3 times) of those pigments were detected from samples in summer than in autumn. Small decrease in concentration of phosphate at this depth of St. A4 was also observed. It suggested that this bottom cold water was transported from the subsurface water with biomass of active phytoplankton, which was sunk and flowed southward.