Biomass of Size-fractionated Phytoplankton during the Spring-Summer Season in Southern Chile

Abstract

Picoplankton ( 25 μm) chlorophyll a were measured during the spring and summer months at sampling stations in the Strait of Magellan and three adjacent areas: Bell Bay, Oracion Bay and Brinkley Island. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the biomass of the netphytoplankton fraction became an important component (68%) of the phytoplankton community during late spring (November, December, January) in all four areas. This is supported by the dominance of large chain-forming diatom species registered in these coastal stations. In contrast, the contribution of pico- and n-anoplankton fractions became important (> 67%) during early spring (September, October) at the Strait of Magellan and during summer (February, March) at Bell Bay, Oracion Bay and Brinkley Island