Seasonal and interannual variability of size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass and community structure at station Kerfix, off the Kerguelen Islands, Antarctica

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Abstract
Time series of phytoplankton biomass and taxonomic composition have been obtained for the 3 years 1992, 1993 and 1994 in the northern part of the Southern Ocean (station Kerfix, 50°40'S, 68°25;E) Autotrophic biomass was low throughout the year (−3 except during a short period in summer when a maximum of 1.2 mg chlorophyll (Chl) a m− was reached. During winter, the integrated biomass was low (20 mg m −2 ) was associated with increased water column stability. During summer blooms, the >10 μ;m size fraction contributed 60% to total integrated biomass. Large autotrophic dinoflagellates, mainly Prorocentrum spp., were associated with the summer phyto plankton maxima and accounted for >80% of the total autotroph carbon biomass. In November and December, the presence of the large heterotrophic dinoflagellates Protoperidinium spp . and Gyro dinium spp. contributed a high proportion of total carbon biomass. During winter, the −1

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