Phytoplankton studies in the fjords of West Spitzbergen: physical environment and production in spring and summer

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Abstract
The phytoplankton in the fjords of West Spitzbergen was investigated from 1978 to 1985. The spring bloom lasted longer than at the Norwegian coast: from mid March to early June. There is no delay in the onset of the spring bloom in Spitzerbergen fjords relative to fjords of northern Norway. This is probably related to the rapid daylength increase at high latitudes. The phytoplankton species composition during spring was comparable to that along the coast of northern Norway. Annual primary production in the investigated area was calculated to be 150 g C m −2 year −1 .