A Possible Explanation for the Dominance of Chlorophyll in Pico and Nano-size Fractions in the Waters Around the South Shetland Islands

Ch1 a abundance, Ch1 a-specific productivity and phytoplankton growth rate in each size fraction (pico, $<2{\mu}m$; nano, $2-10{\mu}m$; micro, > $10{\mu}m$) in the waters around the South Shetland Islands (Ant-arctic Peninsula Area) were analysed. Although Ch1 a-specific productivity and growth rate were highest in micro-size fractions, ChI a abundance was highest in pico-size fractions. Selective removal of nano- and micro-size phytoplankton especially by krill and salp grazing, but not limitation of phytoplankton growth, seemed to be the major reason to explain this miss match between productivity and abundance of the phytoplankton community.