Seasonal Phytoplankton Assemblages Associated with the Chesapeake Bay Plume and Waters Off Dam Neck, Virginia

摘要

The coastal waters south of the Chesapeake Bay entrance contain a diverse assemblage of phytoplankters, dominated by net and nanoplankton components. Two major growth periods occur in later winter-spring and fall, and coincide with rising and decreasing water temperatures and changes in available light, rainfall, salinities, among other factors. The purpose of this study was to provide a seasonal profile of the phytoplankton composition from this coastal region where there is a diverse representation of estuarine and shelf populations.