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http://dx.doi.org/10.11626/KJEB.2022.40.1.054

Changes in phytoplankton size structure in the East Sea 2018-2020 due to marine environment change  

Kyung Woo Park (National Institute of Fisheries Science, NIFS)
Hyun Ju Oh (National Institute of Fisheries Science, NIFS)
Jae Dong Hwang (National Institute of Fisheries Science, NIFS)
Su Yeon Moon (National Institute of Fisheries Science, NIFS)
Min Uk Lee (National Institute of Fisheries Science, NIFS)
Seok Hyun Youn (National Institute of Fisheries Science, NIFS)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Environmental Biology / v.40, no.1, 2022 , pp. 54-69 More about this Journal
Abstract
We conducted a field survey from 2018 to 2020 to analyze the spatial distribution of phytoplankton communities at 13 stations in the East Sea. The diatom Chaetoceros curvisetus appeared as the dominant species in winter, and small flagellates less than 20 ㎛ prevailed in all seasons except winter. The seasonal average range of the micro (>20 ㎛), nano (20 ㎛≥Chl-a>3 ㎛), and picophytoplankton (≤3 ㎛) was 20.6-26.2%, 27.1-35.9%, and 40.8-49.0%, respectively. The composition ratio of nano and picophytoplankton was high at the surface mixed layer from spring to autumn when the water columns were strongly stratified. Especially, the stability of the water mass was increased when the summer surface water temperature was higher than that of the previous year. As a result, the nutrient inflow from the lower layer to the surface was reduced as the ocean stratification layer was strengthened. Therefore, the composition ratio of nano and picophytoplankton was the highest at 77.9% at the surface mixed layer. In conclusion, the structure of the phytoplankton community in the East Sea has been miniaturized, which is expected to form a complex microbial food web structure and lower the carbon transfer rate to the upper consumer stage.
Keywords
surface water temperature rises; Ocean stratification; Chl-a size fraction; phytoplankton miniaturized; phosphate restriction;
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