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Seasonal variations in Delaware Bay phytoplankton community structure

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Abstract

Whole-water phytoplankton samples were obtained from 3 stations in Delaware Bay on a once- or twice-monthly basis from June 13, 1974 to May 28, 1975. The flora was composed primarily of small flagellates during the summer and early fall, while diatoms dominated from October to May. Peak cell numbers occurred during fall and early spring blooms. Evenness diversity was lowest during periods of maximum diatom abundance and highest when microflagellates predominated. There was a gradual shift in dominance, except during the early spring Skeletonema costatum bloom. Cluster analysis allowed the separation of the flora into 3 time groups and 8 recurrent species groups. The species composition and community structure of Delaware Bay phytoplankton is compared with other USA east-coast estuaries where comparable sampling techniques have been used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, Ira C. Darling Center, University of Maine at Orono, Walpole, Maine, USA

    L. Watling

  2. P.O. Box 3597, 97420, Coos Bay, Oregon, USA

    D. Bottom

  3. College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes, Delaware, USA

    A. Pembroke & D. Maurer

Authors
  1. L. Watling
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  2. D. Bottom
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  3. A. Pembroke
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  4. D. Maurer
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Additional information

Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark

Contribution No. 129 from the Ira C. Darling Center and No. 129 from the College of Marine Studies.

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Watling, L., Bottom, D., Pembroke, A. et al. Seasonal variations in Delaware Bay phytoplankton community structure. Mar. Biol. 52, 207–215 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398134

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398134

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