Early season phytoplankton communities in both Omega and Taynaya Bays are characterized by diatoms sedimenting out of the overlying sea ice. Initial nitrate, phosphate and silicate levels are high and the bay waters are covered with ice and well mixed. In Taynaya Bay the ice cover is retained throughout the season while Omega Bay is ice free for 6-8 weeks. After ice break out in Omega Bay, the phytoplankton community changes from one dominated by diatoms to one dominated by the phytoflagellates, Pyramimonas spp., Cryptomonas sp. and Gymnodinium sp. In Taynaya Bay the ice remained and even though phytoflagellates became more common, diatoms still dominated. These differences in community composition result from differences in light climate, extent of stratification and nutrient levels.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Marine systems and management
Objective Field:	Marine biodiversity
UTAS Author:	McMinn, A (Professor Andrew McMinn)
UTAS Author:	Steinberner, K (Ms Kerrie Steinberner)
UTAS Author:	Roberts, D (Dr Donna Roberts)
UTAS Author:	Trenerry, LJ (Ms Louise Trenerry)
ID Code:	20150
Year Published:	2000
Web of Science® Times Cited:	28
Deposited By:	IASOS
Deposited On:	2000-08-01
Last Modified:	2001-04-26
Downloads:	0