Phytoplankton Periodicity in a Eutrophic Coastal Water of the Baltic Sea

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Abstract
The phytoplankton periodicity in the Darss‐Zingst bodden chain, an estuary‐like coastal water of the southern Baltic Sea, was investigated from 1984 to 1990. The following functional groups were established: 1.) nitrogen‐fixing Cyanobacteria plusOscillatoria limnetica, 2.) coccoid Chlorophyceae,Gomphosphaeria pusilla, Lyngbya contortaandStephanodiscus hantzschii, 3.) coccoid Cyanobacteria exceptGomphosphaeria, 4.) diatoms exceptStephanodiscus, 5.) Cryptophyceae and some other flagellates.A general seasonal pattern was observable: in cold winters group 5 dominates; in spring a diatom bloom (= group 4) occurred, which was followed by the development of group 2; steep temperature increases caused a summer bloom of nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacteria (= group 1), which was followed by groups 2 and 3 in autumn; in bland winters group 2 lasts until spring.Grazing was shown to be of minor importance for the phytoplankton periodicity.