Photosynthetic capacity at the surface microlayer during the mixing period

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Abstract
The pbytoplankton biomass and primary production of the sea surface microlayer (upper 3 mm) and the bulk water (1, 10, 20, 30 and 40 m) were investigated in Saronicos Gulf, Aegean Sea, during the period of November-December 1987. The experiments were performed by using newly developed sampling and incubation in situ techniques regarding the surface microlayer. In the well mixed water column, maximum assimilation ratios ranging from 2.63 to 10.97 mg C mg Chla−1 h−1 were recorded at 1 m depth and these values were reduced to ˜45% at the surface microlayer regardless of the uniform distribution of chlorophyll a in these layers. The 1% light level varied between 20 and 40 m depth and the assimilation ratio at this level averaged 12% in relation to the maximum value at 1 m depth. The problems associated with the static bottle incubations and the type of glass of the bottles used are discussed with respect to the photosynthetic measurements at the surface microlayer.