The ecology of a coastal Phaeocystis bloom in the north-western English Channel in 1990

Abstract

The evolution of a Phaeocystis bloom off Plymouth in spring 1990 is described. Data were obtained (1) during weekly visits to station El to measure physical parameters, nutrient concentrations, primary production and grazing pressure and (2) by regular tows of an Undulating Oceanographic Recorder around a circuit of five stations including El to detect stratification, monitor the geographical distribution of chlorophyll and determine vertical profiles at each station.The data show that the Phaeocystis bloom emanated from near-shore, its spread towards the south-east correlating with the wind direction prevailing at the time. Due to bad weather, seasonal stratification had not been established at the time of the bloom so that a major diatom outburst had not occurred and nutrients remained high as the Phaeocystis moved offshore.Zooplankton populations at El, averaged over 50 m, decreased whilst Phaeocystis was present, resulting in very low grazing pressure. Termination of the bloom was not, therefore, due to consumption by herbivores. It was, instead, caused by Phaeocystis colonies becoming nutrient-depleted and releasing single cells which were transported downwards. As a result of this, chlorophyll concentrations near the bottom remained high for some time after the Phaeocystis had disappeared from the surface water.A scenario is proposed to explain the observations in terms of our current understanding of the ecophysiology of Phaeocystis.