Eutrophication and annual primary production of phytoplankton in the deep-water part of the Black Sea

Using the data of daily primary production, as well as intraannual and long-term changes in the concentration of chlorophyll “a” and hydrochemical characteristics, the annual primary production of phytoplankton in the deep-water part of the Black Sea is estimated for the three key periods in the contemporary evolution of the sea: preeutrophication, very intense eutrophication, and the present-day period characterized by deeutrophication. It is shown that eutrophication in the second part of the 20th Century led to an increase in the production level not only in the shelf of the Black Sea, but also its deep-water areas. By the end of the 1980s and the early 1990s, the value of the annual primary production in this part of the sea increased from 63 ± 18 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ (in the 1960s) up to 135 ± 30 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. On the contrary, after 1993, mainly because of reduced runoff of biogenic substances into the Black Sea from land based sources, there was a decrease in the annual production of phytoplankton in the deep-water areas of the sea, which is currently about 105 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹.     

Variability of chlorophyll and primary production in the Eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre: potential factors affecting phytoplankton activity

Size-fractionated chlorophyll-a and carbon incorporation rates were determined on a series of 13 cruises carried out from 1992 to 2001with the aim of investigating the patterns and causes of variability in phytoplankton chlorophyll and production in the Eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyral Province (NASE). Averaged (±SE) integrated chlorophyll-a concentration and primary production rate were 17±1 mg m⁻² and 253±22 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹. Small-sized cells (<2 μm) formed the bulk of phytoplankton biomass (71%) and accounted for 54% of total primary production. A clear latitudinal gradient in these variables was not detected. By contrast, large seasonal variability was detected in terms of primary production, although integrated phytoplankton biomass, as estimated from chlorophyll-a concentration, remained rather constant and did not display significant changes with time. Variability in primary production (PP) was related mainly to variability in surface temperature and surface chlorophyll-a concentration. The control exerted by surface temperature was related to nutrient availability. By contrary, euphotic-zone depth, depth of maximum concentration of chlorophyll-a and integrated chlorophyll-a did not contribute significantly to the high variability in primary production observed in this oligotrophic region.     

Standing stocks and production rates of phytoplankton and planktonic copepods in the Inland Sea of Japan

Standing stocks and production rates of phytoplankton and planktonic copepods were investigated at 15 stations in the Inland Sea of Japan during four cruises in October–November 1979, January, April and June 1980. The overall mean of phytoplankton biomass was relatively constant during the study period, ranging from 2.3 mg chl.a m^–3 in April to 3.6 mg chl.a m^–3 in October–November. Primary production was low in January (mean: 90 mg C m^–2 d^–1), but higher than 375 mg C m^–2 d^–1 on the other occasions. Integrated annual primary production was 122 g C m^–2 yr^–1. In terms of carbon weight,Paracalanus parvus was the most important copepod species. The variation of the mean copepod biomass (range: 7.6 mg C m^–3 in April to 20.2 mg C m^–3 in June) was smaller than that of copepod production, which was estimated by the Ikeda-Motoda's physiological method. Copepod producion was low in cold seasons (0.6 and 0.9 mg C m^–3 d^–1 in January and April, respectively), and increased, following the elevation of primary production, to 4.9 mg C m^–3 d^–1 in June. Annual copepod production was 33.7 g C m^–2 yr^–1, of which herbivore (secondary) production was 26.4 g C m^–2 yr^–1 (21.7% of primary production). The ratios of pelagic planktivorous fish catch and total fish catch to the primary production were 0.82 and 1.8%, respectively, indicating very high efficiency in exploiting fishery resources in the Inland Sea of Japan.     

Structure and Productivity of the Phytocenosis in the Southwestern Kara Sea in Early Spring

Results of plankton biota studies in the southwestern Kara are presented. The spatial distribution of hydrochemical and hydrophysical parameters related to structural and functional characteristics of phytoplankton in the surface water is considered. The chlorophyll a concentration varied in the surface layer of the Kara Sea from 0.08 to 3.22 mg m^–3 (mean value 0.62 mg m^–3). Primary production varied from 0 to 1.92 mg C m^–3 day^–1 (the mean value of 0.42 mg C m^–3 day^–1) in the ice-covered water areas and was greater by a factor of four, ranging from 1.01 to 3.46 mg C m^–3 day^–1 (the mean value of 1.79 mg C m^–3 day^–1) in ice-free areas. In this case, the total algal biomass varied from 0.8 to 110.7 mg C m^–3 (mean value 10.6 mg C m^–3). It is shown that in the study period, waters from the western Kara Sea were more productive than the estuarine water areas of the Ob and Yenisei rivers. The activity of phototrophic phytoplankton in river waters was almost completely absent. It is established that the contents of nutrients and iron were higher than the threshold for limitation of phytoplankton development. The experiments showed that the production activity of phototrophic algae is restrained by light deficit beneath the ice.     

A phytoplankton class-specific primary production model applied to the Kerguelen Islands region (Southern Ocean)

As part of the KErguelen: compared study of the Ocean and the Plateau in Surface water (KEOPS) project in late summer 2005, we examine the phytoplankton community composition and associated primary production in the waters surrounding the Kerguelen Archipelago, with the emphasis on two contrasted environments: (i) the Kerguelen Plateau, where a large bloom occurs annually, and (ii) the high-nutrient low-chlorophyll (HNLC) offshore waters. A biomarker pigment approach was used to assess the community composition in terms of chlorophyll biomass of three phytoplankton size classes, namely micro-, nano-, and picophytoplankton. The second objective was to evaluate a global class-specific approach for estimating the contribution of the three pigment-based size classes to the primary production in the study area. To do so, primary production rates associated with each phytoplankton class were computed from the class-specific chlorophyll biomass coupled to a class-specific primary production model, and compared with in situ measurements of size-fractionated ¹³C-based primary production. The iron-enriched bloom region was dominated by microphytoplankton (diatoms), which contributed 80–90% to the total primary production (of ≈1 g C m^?2 d^?1). In the HNLC area, the primary production was about 0.30 g C m^?2 d^?1, mainly (65%) achieved by small diatoms and nanoflagellates. The model results show a good overall agreement between predicted and measured total primary production rates. In terms of size classes, agreements were higher for the bloom region than for the HNLC waters. Discrepancies in this complex iron-limited area may be explained essentially by the smaller size of diatoms, or a different set of photophysiological properties.     

2012年楚科奇海及其邻近海域浮游植物现存量和初级生产力粒级结构研究

通过2012年夏季第五次北极科学考察期间在楚科奇海及其邻近海域现场调查所获得的数据分析研究了海域的粒度分级叶绿素a浓度和初级生产力。结果表明,叶绿素a浓度和初级生产力的高值均出现在楚科奇海陆架区,并且远高于深海区。去程时调查海域水层平均叶绿素a浓度的变化范围为0.32~15.66mg/m3,平均(2.77±3.96)mg/m3,高值区出现在南部邻近白令海峡海域、北部阿拉斯加巴罗近岸和冰缘区;初级生产力的范围为50.11~943.28mg/(m2d),高值出现在冰缘水华区。返程时水层平均叶绿素a浓度的变化范围为0.07~1.52mg/m3,平均(0.41±0.40)mg/m3,高值仍出现在陆架区,但比去程时低了一个数量级;初级生产力的分布范围为12.31~41.35mg/(m2d),高值出现在陆架区。浮游植物粒度分级测定结果表明,在生物量较低的深海区,叶绿素a浓度和初级生产力的粒级结构以微微型浮游生物(Pico级份)占优势(其贡献率分别为46.1%和56.9%),小型(Net级份)和微型(Nano级份)对总叶绿素a浓度的贡献差异极小,分别为26.6%和27.3%,对总初级生产力的贡献分别为23.8%和19.3%;而在生物量较高的水深小于200m的陆架区,Net级份叶绿素a浓度所占百分比最高,Pico级份次之,Nano级份最低,分别为59.8%、27.9%和12.3%,初级生产力的粒级结构中叶绿素a浓度所占百分比由高到低同样是Net、Pico和Nano,所占百分比分别为60.6%,32.2%和7.2%。     

Peculiarities of the primary production process in the Kara Sea at the end of the vegetation season

Research was implemented from September 15 through October 4, 2011 in the Kara Sea along transects located southeastwards Novaya Zemlya, in the St. Anna Trough, the Yenisei River estuary, and the adjacent shelf. The concentration of chlorophyll a was the highest in the photic zone (0.05–2.30 mg/m³, on average, 0.80 ± 0.37 mg/m³). The maximal concentration of Chl a at most of the stations located in the water layer of 7–30 m. Integral primary production in the water column varied from 3.0 to 151.0 mg C/m² per day, on average, 37.2 ± 36.6 mg C/m² per day. The maximal rate of primary production at most of the stations has been observed for the surface layer of the water column. Within the upper mixed water layer, relative primary production was from 31 to 100% (on average, 77 ± 20%). The most productive zone was the waters along Yenisei transect. In the estuary and at the adjacent shelf, primary production was 50 mg C/m² per day, exceeding the range observed for other areas by 1.5–2.0 times. The concentrations of silica and nitrogen together with light regime and water temperature were the major limiting factors affecting the primary production rate in the Kara Sea in autumn.     

Effects of cold eddy on phytoplankton production and assemblages in Luzon strait bordering the South China Sea

The biochemical effects of a cold-core eddy that was shed from the Kuroshio Current at the Luzon Strait bordering the South China Sea (SCS) were studied in late spring, a relatively unproductive season in the SCS. The extent of the eddy was determined by time-series images of SeaWiFS ocean color, AVHRR sea surface temperature, and TOPEX/Jason-1 sea surface height anomaly. Nutrient budgets, nitrate-based new production, primary production, and phytoplankton assemblages were compared between the eddy and its surrounding Kuroshio and SCS waters. The enhanced productivity in the eddy was comparable to wintertime productivity in the SCS basin, which is supported by upwelled subsurface nitrate under the prevailing Northeastern Monsoon. There were more Synechococcus, pico-eucaryotes, and diatoms, but less Trichodesmium in the surface water inside the eddy than outside. Prochlorococcus and Richelia intracellularis showed no spatial differences. Water column-integrated primary production (IPP) inside the eddy was 2–3 times that outside the eddy in the SCS (1.09 vs. 0.59 g C m⁻²d⁻¹), as was nitrate-based new production (INP) (0.67 vs. 0.25 g C m⁻²d⁻¹). INP in the eddy was 6 times that in the Kuroshio (0.12 g C m⁻²d⁻¹). IPP and INP in the eddy were higher than the maximum production values ever measured in the SCS basin. Surface chlorophyll a concentration (0.40 mg m⁻³) in the eddy equaled the maximum concentration registered for the SCS basin and was higher than the wintertime average (0.29 ± 0.04 mg m⁻³). INP was 3.5 times as great and IPP was doubled in the eddy compared to the wintertime SCS basin. As cold core eddies form intermittently all year round as the Kuroshio invades the SCS, their effects on phytoplankton productivity and assemblages are likely to have important influences on the biogeochemical cycle of the region.     

Chlorophyll,primary production,and organic carbon fluxes in the Kara Sea

New maps of the mean monthly distribution of chlorophyll and the primary production in the Kara Sea were compiled using joint processing of CZCS (1978–1986), SeaWiFS (1998–2005), and MODIS (2002–2006) satellite data and field measurements. The annual primary production of phytoplankton is estimated at 22.3 × 10⁶ t of C per year or 70 mg of C/m² per day. The results of the calculations of the organic carbon budget in the Kara Sea are presented.     

Photosynthate allocation in a temperate sea over an annual cycle: the relationship between protein synthesis and phytoplankton physiological state

The seasonal and vertical variations in the patterns of photosynthate allocation into biomolecules by natural phytoplankton assemblages were determined, together with their species composition, in a coastal station of the central Cantabrian Sea (southern Bay of Biscay). Chlorophyll-a concentration ranged from values below 20 mg m⁻² in winter to values above 80 mg m⁻² during spring and during an upwelling event in summer. Low primary production rates (<300 mgC m⁻² d^-1) were measured during winter and during summer stratification periods. The rate of C fixation during summer upwelling conditions exceeded 3500 mgC m⁻² d⁻¹. In terms of photosynthate partitioning, proteins were the dominant fraction, as they typically accounted for >30% of total photo-assimilated C, with polysaccharides and low molecular weight metabolites showing incorporation percentages around 10–30%. Relative C incorporation into lipids was generally <15%. Recurrent patterns of vertical variability in photosynthate partitioning were observed: the relative synthesis of proteins increased toward the bottom of the euphotic zone, whereas the relative C incorporation into polysaccharides and lipids tended to be higher near the surface. When primary production decreased, the synthesis of proteins was maintained more than that of other molecules. Throughout the year, the relative synthesis of proteins was inversely correlated with phytoplankton biomass, production and growth rate. The conservation of protein synthesis under growth-limiting conditions and the enhancement of lipid and polysaccharide synthesis when irradiance is high seem to constitute general patterns of photosynthate partitioning in marine phytoplankton. In our study, these patterns represented metabolic strategies of phytoplankton in response to changing environmental factors, rather than the effect of variations in the species composition of the community.     

大气氮沉降对南黄海初级生产过程影响的数值研究

本研究利用三维物理-生物耦合模型模拟了大气氮沉降对南黄海主要初级生产过程的影响,并通过数值实验区分了不同季节大气氮沉降的贡献。模拟结果显示,大气氮沉降明显增大了南黄海表层溶解无机氮的浓度,近岸海域增加量较大,可以达到3.0 mmol/m^3,且由近岸海域到黄海中部海域有明显的递减趋势,这主要是由于近岸海域无机氮来源众多,导致浓度较高,大气沉降的氮不会被浮游植物生长吸收,出现氮累积。大气氮沉降明显促进了黄海中部春季表层水华和夏季次表层叶绿素最大值两个重要初级生产过程,春季表层叶绿素增加量最大,可达0.20 mg/m^3,夏季次表层叶绿素浓度增加最显著,可达0.10 mg/m^3,分别约为峰值浓度的10%和6%。不同季节大气氮沉降对初级生产过程的贡献不同,冬季氮沉降可以存留下来影响春季水华过程,但作用小于春季氮沉降;夏季,由于水体层化较强,本季的氮沉降对次表层叶绿素最大值的促进作用并不明显,反而冬季氮沉降的影响大于春季和夏季的氮沉降。同时,大气氮沉降也促进了氮循环的各个过程,包括浮游植物生长吸收、呼吸释放和矿化过程。     

Phytoplankton production characteristics in the southern Atlantic and the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in the austral summer of 2009–2010

In December–January of 2010 the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton production characteristics was studied along transects in the vicinity of the Greenwich meridian (I) and in the Drake Passage (II). On transect I, the surface chlorophyll a concentration and primary production varied from 0.11 up to 3.57 mg/m³ and from 4.38 up to 37.47 mgC/m³ per day, respectively. The chlorophyll a in the photosynthetic layer and the integrated primary production varied from 10.7 up to 66.1 mg/m² and from 83 to 646 mgC/m² per day, respectively. On transect II in the surface layer, the chlorophyll a concentration changed within the range of 0.09–1.02 mg/m³ and the primary production ranged from 2.08 to 9.49 mgC/m³. The integrated values ranged from 6.32 to 38.29 mg/m² and from 41 to 221 mgC/m² per day, respectively. The moderate means of themaximum quantum yield (F _v/F _m) on transects I and II (0.41 and 0.35, respectively) testify to the low activity of the phytoplankton’s photosynthetic apparatus. The studied water areas in the Southern Ocean differed both in the phytoplankton biomass expressed in the chlorophyll a concentration values and in the conditions of the primary production formation.     

Estimation of Annual Kara Sea Primary Production

Primary production of phytoplankton and ice and under-ice flora of the Kara Sea and regions thereof has been assessed using region-specific models and MODIS-Aqua satellite data for 2002–2015. Average annual primary production of phytoplankton calculated for the growing season (April–October) amounted to 165 mg С m^–2 day^–1. Annual primary production of phytoplankton was 35 g C/m². Annual primary production of phytoplankton in the entire Kara Sea was 13 × 10¹² g C. Annual primary production of ice and underice flora calculated using an integrated biophysical model was 1.7 × 10¹² g C, or 12% of total primary production of the Kara Sea; the ice cover dynamics and published data were taken into account for the calculations. The results have been compared to earlier primary production estimates for the Kara Sea. The extent of the increase in sea productivity during warming of the Arctic and the decrease in ice cover area are discussed.     

南黄海浮游植物初级生产力粒级结构与碳流途径分析

根据2006年夏季与冬季南黄海真光层内浮游植物初级生产速率的实测数据,对比研究了两种差异显著的水动力条件下,不同粒级浮游植物初级生产力水平、时空分布特征及其环境调控机制,并探讨了真光层生源碳可能的碳流途径。研究结果表明,南黄海夏季总初级生产力(碳)平均为30.69 mg/(m2·h),高值区位于调查海域南部长江冲淡水影响区,冬季总初级生产力低于夏季,平均水平为21.73 mg/(m2·h),高值区北迁至海州湾附近;夏季不同粒径浮游植物对总初级生产的贡献率由高到低的顺序为小型(42.8%)、微型(29.6%)、微微型(27.6%),冬季的为微微型(41.2%)、微型(36.5%)、小型(22.3%);真光层初级生产力与环境因子的相关分析表明,水动力条件(混合与层化)引起的营养盐来源和光照的变化是初级生产力分布的主要控制因素;用生态比值法对南黄海碳流途径的分析表明,微食物环在冬夏两季碳流途径中均占有重要地位,从总体上看,南黄海浮游生态系统的碳输出潜力较弱。     

Biological Characteristics of Central Indian Basin Waters During the Southern Summer

Phytoplankton biomass, taxonomy, primary productivity, and photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) were studied as part of baseline data collection for prospective nodule mining in the Central Indian Basin during the ORV Sagar Kanya cruise SK-120 in January 1997. The phytoplankton cell counts and chlorophyll a estimates showed low biomass level, suggesting low rates of primary productivity in the region studied. The average chlorophyll a value was 0.775 mg m^?3 at surface and 17.75 mg m^?2 in the water column. Similarly, average primary productivity at surface was 3.72 mg C m^?3 d^?1 and was 51.23 mg C m^?2 d^?1 in column. The chlorophyll a maxima at 50 to 80 m was the characteristic feature of the euphotic zones of the area. Average phytoplankton counts at the surface were low (3960 cells/l), compared to those at 25 m (6421 cells/l) and 75 m (5187 cells/l). At most of the stations mesozooplankton biomass was maximum in the top 50 m water column, indicating the importance of grazing in the euphotic zone. Appreciable quantities of mesozooplankton were observed below the euphotic zone, where settlement of chlorophyll a occurs. The low iron concentration in the water and its relationship with the water column productivity were correlated. The results show that waters in the CIB have low productivity in the surface as well as subsurface layers. This is expected to change in this case of a mining discharge in to these layers, possibly locally affecting the existing marine ecosystems. The final impact of such mining activity may remain negligible in the deep sea environment.     

Picoplankton: Contribution to Phytoplankton Production in the Strait of Messina*

Abstract. Biomass and primary production rates derived from photosynthesis-light curves on picoplankton (< 1 um fraction) and total phytoplankton were compared for the Strait of Messina. Picoplankton biomass ranged between 0.063 and 0.094 mg Chi a m^-5 and accounted for 56–63 % of the total. Total primary production rates were between 0.22 and 1.56 mg C-m^-2-h^-1 of which the picoplankton contribution ranged from 24 to 43%. In this turbulent nearshore environment, the contribution of picoplankton to total phytoplankton production is considerably less than in calmer open-ocean waters. Carbon assimilation numbers (Pm^b), the initial slope (a), adaptation parameter (I_k), optimal irradiance (I_m) and compensation intensity (L_m,) for the picoplankton were lower than for the > 1 μm fraction. Fitted respiration (Rm^B) for the picoplankton was, however, on the average higher (10.3 % of Pm^B) than for the > 1 μrn fraction (6.6 %). Assimilation numbers for the > 1 μm fraction in the southern stations were of higher magnitude (8.5–12.0 mg C mg Chi a^-1 h^-1) than in the northern station, possibly due to the impact of upwelled water flowing southward along the Sicilian coast.     

Phytoplankton growth and mortality during the 1995 Northeast Monsoon and Spring Intermonsoon in the Arabian Sea

Phytoplankton growth rates and mortality rates were experimentally examined at eight stations in the Arabian Sea along the U.S. JGOFS cruise track during the 1995 Northeast Monsoon (January) and Spring Intermonsoon (March–April). Instantaneous growth rates averaged over an entire cruise were approximately twice as high during the NE Monsoon than during the Spring Intermonsoon period (overall averages of 0.84±0.29 (s.d.) versus 0.44±0.19 d⁻¹). Average herbivore grazing (mortality) rates, however, were quite similar for the two seasons (overall averages of 0.35±0.18 and 0.30±0.17 d⁻¹ for the NE Monsoon and Spring Intermonsoon, respectively). The absolute amounts of phytoplankton biomass consumed during each season also were similar (29 and 25% of standing stock consumed d⁻¹ for the January and March–April cruises, respectively), as were the geographical trends of this removal. These seasonal trends in growth and removal rates resulted in net phytoplankton growth rates that were considerably higher during the January cruise (0.48 d⁻¹) than during the March–April cruise (0.14 d⁻¹). That is, phytoplankton production was more closely balanced during the Spring Intermonsoon season (87% of daily primary production consumed) relative to the NE Monsoon season (49% of daily primary production consumed). Station-to-station variability was high for rate measurements during either cruise. Nevertheless, there was a clear onshore–offshore trend in the absolute rate of removal of phytoplankton biomass (μg chlorophyll consumed l⁻¹ d⁻¹) during both cruises. Coastal stations had removal rates that were typically 2–4 times higher than removal rates at oceanic stations.     

Spatial variability of the species composition,abundance, and productivity of the phytoplankton in the white sea in the late summer period

The species composition, cell concentration (N), and biomass (B) of the phytoplankton, as well as the chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, primary production (PP), and the concentrations of the dissolved inorganic micronutrients (phosphorus, silica, nitrogen as nitrite), were estimated for Kandalaksha Bay (KB), Dvina Bay (DB), and the basin (Bas) of the White Sea in August of 2004. The micronutrient concentrations were lower compared to the average long-term values for the summer period. The Chl a concentration varies from 0.9 to 2.0 mg/m³ for most of the studied areas, reaching up to 7.5 mg/m³ in the Northern Dvina River estuary. The surface water layer of the DB was the most productive area, where the PP reached up to 270–375 mg C/(m³ day). The phytoplankton biomass varied from 11 to 205 mg C/m³ with the highest values observed in the Bas and DB. Three groups of stations were defined during the analysis of the phytoplankton’s species composition similarity. The dinoflagellates Dinophysis norvegica and Ceratium fusus were particular to the phytoplankton assemblages in the KB; the diatom Ditylum brightwellii was particular to the upper and central parts of the DB. These three phytoplankton species were less abundant in the Bas.     

Primary productivity and solar radiation off Sanriku in May 1997

We measured the in situ primary production at four stations from the surface to 80 m off Sanriku in late May 1997. The depth-integrated daily primary production in the upper 80 m was estimated to be 391, 468, and 855 mgC m⁻²d⁻¹ in water from the Oyashio, and 336 mgC m⁻²d⁻¹ in the warm-core ring. The variation in the primary production was primarily due to the variation in phytoplankton activity (chlorophyll α-specific primary production). A combination of previous and present studies in water from the Oyashio and the warm-core ring suggested that phytoplankton activity is proportional to light intensity between 12 and 50 Ein m⁻²d⁻¹ which is close to the usual light condition (61–75 Ein m⁻²d⁻¹) off Sanriku in May and June. Light may be a limiting factor for phytoplankton off Sanriku in late spring and early summer.     

Basin-scale variability of phytoplankton biomass,production and growth in the Atlantic Ocean

The latitudinal distributions of phytoplankton biomass, composition and production in the Atlantic Ocean were determined along a 10,000-km transect from 50°N to 50°S in October 1995, May 1996 and October 1996. Highest levels of euphotic layer-integrated chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration (75–125 mg Chl m⁻²) were found in North Atlantic temperate waters and in the upwelling region off NW Africa, whereas typical Chl a concentrations in oligotrophic waters ranged from 20 to 40 mg Chl m⁻². The estimated concentration of surface phytoplankton carbon (C) biomass was 5–15 mg C m⁻² in the oligotrophic regions and increased over 40 mg C m⁻² in richer areas. The deep chlorophyll maximum did not seem to constitute a biomass or productivity maximum, but resulted mainly from an increase in the Chl a to C ratio and represented a relatively small contribution to total integrated productivity. Primary production rates varied from 50 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹ at the central gyres to 500–1000 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹ in upwelling and higher latitude regions, where faster growth rates (μ) of phytoplankton (>0.5 d⁻¹) were also measured. In oligotrophic waters, microalgal growth was consistently slow [surface μ averaged 0.21±0.02 d⁻¹ (mean±SE)], representing <20% of maximum expected growth. These results argue against the view that the subtropical gyres are characterized by high phytoplankton turnover rates. The latitudinal variations in μ were inversely correlated to the changes in the depth of the nitracline and positively correlated to those of the integrated nitrate concentration, supporting the case for the role of nutrients in controlling the large-scale distribution of phytoplankton growth rates. We observed a large degree of temporal variability in the phytoplankton dynamics in the oligotrophic regions: productivity and growth rates varied in excess of 8-fold, whereas microalgal biomass remained relatively constant. The observed spatial and temporal variability in the biomass specific rate of photosynthesis is at least three times larger than currently assumed in most satellite-based models of global productivity.