白令海表层沉积硅藻的种类组成与分布

摘要 利用2010年中国第四次北极科学考察白令海获取的6个站位的沉积物样品,分析了表层1cm的沉积硅藻,共检出分属于37个属的101个硅藻种（含变种和变型）,并编制了种类名录。这些种类可分为4个生态类群：（1）广温种;(2)北方温带种;(3)极地种;(4)海冰种。白令海西南海盆区以北方温带种占绝对优势,主要有Neodenticula seminae,Thalassiosira trifulta,Rhizosolenia hebetata f. hiemalis、Actinocyclus curvatulus;而在东北陆架区以极地种为主,主要包括Fragilariopsis oceanica,Thalassiosira antarctica spora,Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii、Thalassiosira hyalina。海盆区站位沉积硅藻丰度最高,为3.7×106个/g湿重(不包括角毛藻休眠孢子）,而东部陆架区丰度最低,仅有0.7×106个/g。本文同时探讨了表层沉积硅藻分布与环境的关系。     

白令海和楚科奇海表层沉积硅藻分布特征

对我国第二次和第三次北极科学考察在白令海和楚科奇海获取的部分表层沉积物样品进行了详细的硅藻分析,旨在了解白令海和楚科奇海表层沉积硅藻的主要分布情况。研究发现海冰对北极硅藻有着显著的影响,在最小冰边缘线以北海域,由于常年被海冰覆盖,表层沉积物中的硅藻数量极少甚至缺失,而在此范围以南海域,硅藻含量则甚为丰富。白令海和楚科奇海表层沉积物中最主要的硅藻种类及组合有：角毛藻休眠孢子(Chaetoceros resting spores),海冰硅藻组合(以Fragilariopsis oceanica和Fragilariopsis cylindrus为代表),极地硅藻组合(优势种有Bacterosira bathyomphla,Thalassiosira antarctic v. borealis及其休眠孢子),沿岸底栖硅藻组合(主要有Paralia sulcata和Delpheneis surirella),诺氏海链藻(Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii)和塞米新细齿藻(Neodenticula seminae)等。上述硅藻种类及组合具有显著的空间分布差异性,并与现代海洋环境因素密切相关,因此对于白令海和楚科奇海古海洋环境研究具有重要意义。     

Temporal variations in the abundance and sinking flux of diatoms under fast ice in summer near Syowa Station, East Antarctica

To investigate the fate of ice algae released from sea ice, we investigated the abundance, species composition, and sinking flux of diatoms in the water column under fast ice near Syowa Station, Antarctica during the summer of 2005/2006. The diatom assemblage in the water column consisted of chain-forming planktonic species, in contrast to the under-ice assemblage dominated by pennate species reported from this site in the past; this dissimilarity suggests the presence of an unconsolidated platelet ice layer under the congelation ice, within which planktonic species can bloom. Among the dominant diatoms, Porosira pseudodenticulata and Pseudo-nitzschia cf. turgiduloides were dominant in the water column, and their water column stocks were higher than their mass sedimentation. These species apparently maintain their populations in the surface layer, as their production remains in the water column. In contrast, Fragilariopsis kerguelensis and Thalassiosira australis were scarce in the water column but rich in the flux, indicating active sinking and export of their production to the benthic ecosystem. This distinction in buoyancy control and sinking characteristics of the dominant diatoms on release from the fast ice influences the diatom species composition and carbon flow under the ice.     

北极拉普捷夫海春季冰藻和浮游植物群落结构及生物量分析

对1999年春季采集于北极拉普捷夫海东南部的冰藻和冰下浮游植物群落的种类组成进行了分析,并对丰度和生物量进行了统计和对比。藻种以硅藻占绝对优势,其中又以羽纹硅藻为主。优势种集中,主要包括海洋拟脆杆藻(Fragilariopsisoceanica)、圆柱拟脆杆藻(F.cylindrus)、寒冷菱形藻(Nitzschiafrigida)、普罗马勒菱形藻(N. promare)、带纹曲壳藻(Ach nanthestaeniata)、新寒冷菱形藻(Nitzschianeofrigida)、大洋舟形藻(Naviculapelagica)、范氏舟形藻(N. vanhoeffenii)、北极直链藻(Melosiraarctica)、北方舟形藻(N. septentrionalis)、新月细柱藻(Clindrothecaclosterium)和绿藻门的塔形藻(Pyramimonassp. )。微藻主要集中在冰底10cm,丰度为14. 6-1562. 2×104 cells·L-1,平均为639. 0×104 cells·L-1;生物量为7. 89-2093. 5μgC·L-1,平均为886. 9μgC·L-1,总体上比次冰底高1个数量级,比冰下表层水柱高2个数量级。冰底20cm冰柱的累计丰度和生物量平均分别为冰下20m水柱累计量的7. 7和12. 2倍,显示冰藻在春季海冰融化前在近岸生态系统中的重要作用。尽管各站位冰底和冰下表层水柱藻类群落的相似性普遍不高,但整个调查海域冰底和冰下水柱优势种极为相似,春季期间冰藻对冰下浮游植物群落的影响明显。由于     

Abundance,biomass and composition of spring ice algal and phytoplankton communities of the Laptev Sea(Arctic)

<正> Abundance,biomass and composition of the ice algal and phytoplank-ton communities were investigated in the southeastern Laptev Sea in spring 1999.Diatoms dominated the algal communities and pennate diatoms dominated the dia-tom population.12 dominant algal species occurred within sea ice and underlyingwater column,including Fragilariopsis oceanica,F.cylindrus,Nitzschiafrigida,N.promare,Achnanthes taeniata,Nitzschia neofrigida,Naviculapelagica,N.vanhoef fenii,N.septentrionalis,Melosira arctica,Clindrothecaclosterium and Pyrarnimonas sp.The algal abundance of bottom 10 cm sea icevaried between 14.6 and 1562.2×10~4 ceils l~(-1)with an average of 639.0×10~4cells l~(-1),and the algal biomass ranged from 7.89 to 2093.5μg C l~(-1)with an av-erage of 886.9μg C l~(-1),which were generally one order of magnitude higherthan those of sub-bottom ice and two orders of magnitude higher than those ofunderlying surface water.The integrated algal abundance and biomass of lower-most 20 cm ice column were averagely 7.7 and 12.2 times as those of upper 20 mwater column,respectively,suggesting that the ice algae might play an importantrole in maintaining the coastal marine ecosystem before the thawing of sea ice.Icealgae influenced the phytoplankton community of the underlying water column.However,the“seeding”of ice algae for phytoplankton bloom was negligible be-cause of the iow phytoplankton biomass within the underlying water column.     

西格陵兰Disko湾表层沉积硅藻组合研究

本文分析了西格陵兰Disko湾的表层沉积物硅藻,发现并统计了分属于39个属的78个硅藻种及其变种。应用对应分析方法,对Disko湾表层沉积硅藻组合进行了分类:组合Ⅰ为Fragilariopsis cylindrus-Fragilariopsis oceanica组合,主要分布在西格陵兰Disko湾南部的近岸和外海处;组合Ⅱ为Detonula confervaceae休眠孢子-Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii组合,都分布在Dis-ko湾北部海域。其中,根据海流等环境要素的不同,组合Ⅰ又可进一步划分为两个亚区:组合Ⅰa为F.cylindrus-F.oceanica-Pauliella taeniata组合,主要分布于沿岸海区;组合Ⅰb为F.cy-lindrus-F.oceanica-Thalassiosira antarcticavar.borealis休眠孢子-Thalassiosiracf.antarcticavar.borealis组合,分布于外海区域。     

Siliceous microfossil distribution in the surficial sediments of Lake Baikal

Examination of surficial sediments at 16 stations shows minor, but consistent differences in the numbers and kinds of siliceous microfossils deposited in different regions of Lake Baikal. There is a general north-south decreasing trend in total microfossil abundance on a weight basis. Endemic plankton diatom species are the most abundant component of assemblages at all stations. Chrysophyte cysts are present at all stations, but most forms are more abundant at northern stations. Non-endemic plankton diatom species are most abundant at southern stations. Small numbers of benthic diatoms and sponge spicules are found in all samples. Although low numbers are present in offshore sediments, the benthic diatom flora is very diverse. Principal components analysis confirms primary north-south abundance trends and suggests further differentiation by station location and depth.     

Diatoms in sediments of perennially ice-covered Lake Hoare, and implications for interpreting lake history in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica

Diatom assemblages in surficial sediments, sediment cores, sediment traps, and inflowing streams of perennially ice-covered Lake Hoare, South Victorialand, Antarctica were examined to determine the distribution of diatom taxa, and to ascertain if diatom species composition has changed over time. Lake Hoare is a closed-basin lake with an area of 1.8 km², maximum depth of 34 m, and mean depth of 14 m, although lake level has been rising at a rate of 0.09 m yr^-1 in recent decades. The lake has an unusual regime of sediment deposition: coarse grained sediments accumulate on the ice surface and are deposited episodically on the lake bottom. Benthic microbial mats are covered in situ by the coarse episodic deposits, and the new surfaces are recolonized. Ice cover prevents wind-induced mixing, creating the unique depositional environment in which sediment cores record the history of a particular site, rather than a lake-wide integration. Shallow-water (<1 m) diatom assemblages (Stauroneis anceps, Navicula molesta, Diadesmis contenta var. parallela, Navicula peraustralis) were distinct from mid-depth (4–16 m) assemblages (Diadesmis contenta, Luticola muticopsis fo. reducta, Stauroneis anceps, Diadesmis contenta var. parallela, Luticola murrayi) and deep-water (26–31 m) assemblages (Luticola murrayi, Luticola muticopsis fo. reducta, Navicula molesta). Analysis of a sediment core (30 cm long, from 11 m water depth) from Lake Hoare revealed two abrupt changes in diatom assemblages. The upper section of the sediment core contained the greatest biomass of benthic microbial mat, as well as the greatest total abundance and diversity of diatoms. Relative abundances of diatoms in this section are similar to the surficial samples from mid-depths. An intermediate zone contained less organic material and lower densities of diatoms. The bottom section of core contained the least amount of microbial mat and organic material, and the lowest density of diatoms. The dominant process influencing species composition and abundance of diatom assemblages in the benthic microbial mats is episodic deposition of coarse sediment from the ice surface.     

南极长城湾网采浮游植物的数量分布

198 5年 2月在南极长城湾进行了浮游植物采样 ,在鉴定出的 3 1种浮游植物中 ,冷水性种类占的比例最大。湾内浮游植物细胞数量平均为 1 6 2 .5× 1 0 4 个 / m3 ,其分布湾内低于湾口。优势种类为聚生角刺藻、无刺冀根管藻和条纹盒形藻 ,前者的分布集中于湾内 ,后两者密集在湾口。     

Ice algae in the Barents Sea: types of assemblages, origin, fate and role in the ice-edge phytoplankton bloom

Ice algal accumulations were recognised by their vertical distribution in the ice, as surface, interior and bottom assemblages. The latter were quantitatively the most important in the Barents Sea and in particular the sub-ice assemblage floating towards, or attached to, the undcr-surface of the sea ice. Colonisation of the ice takes place by a "sieving" of the water between closely spaced platelets on the ice under-surface. Once associated with the ice, the assemblage undergoes a succession terminated by the dominance of ice specialists. In a horizontal S-N section through the ice, three distinct zones may be recognised: at the ice edge the recently colonised ice has a layer of algae up to a few millimeters in thickness consisting primarily of planktonic species. Further into older first year ice the algal layer becomes thicker and is typically dominated by the pennate diatom Nilzschia frigida Grunow. Below multi-year ice in the central polar basin decimetre-thick mats of algae are found, consisting almost exclusively of the centric diatom Melosira arclica (Ehrenberg) Dickie and a few associated, mostly epiphytic, species. The predominantly planktonic sub-ice assemblages at the ice edge can grow under stable conditions as soon as the light becomes adequate in the spring, and they are able to multiply actively for one to two months before planktonic growth is possible. The sub-ice plankton assemblage thus forms an inoculum released to the stabilising water when the ice starts melting. This may explain how a phytoplankton bloom can develop explosively at the ice edge as soon as the ice melting commences, at a time when the number of algal cells in the water column is still very low.     

Diatom stratigraphy of the last 250 ka at Lake El’gygytgyn,northeast Siberia

Diatom species counts were conducted on 171 sediment samples from the 13-m-long core PG1351 from Lake El’gygytgyn, northeast Siberia. The planktonic Cyclotella ocellata-complex dominates the diatom assemblage through most of the core record, persisting through a variety of climate conditions. Periphytic diatoms, although less abundant, have greater diversity and greater down-core assemblage variation. During warm climate modes, longer summer ice-free conditions may have allowed more complex diatom communities to develop in shallow-water habitats, and enhanced circulation may have increased transport of these diatoms to deeper parts of the lake. Zones of low overall diatom abundance further support inferred intervals of low lake productivity during times of extended lake ice and snow cover. More data on the modern spatial and temporal distribution of diatom species in the Lake El’gygytgyn system will improve inferences from core records. This is the last in a series of eleven papers published in this␣special issue dedicated to initial studies of El'gygytgyn Crater Lake and its catchment in NE Russia. Julie Brigham-Grette, Martin Melles, Pavel Minyuk were guest editors of this special issue.     

QUATERNARY DIATOMS AND CYSTS FROM XIHU LAKE ON FILDES PENINSULA OF KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA AND THEIR PALAEOENVIRONMENTS

The Xihu Lake is Located on the southern Fildes Peninsula. A drill hole is 2.6 m deep and total 102 samples were collected by Dr. Xie Youyu during 1985-1986. The samples from drill hole in the Xihu Lake contain abundant and well-preserved diatoms and Cysts (Chrysophata), 131 species and variaties of diatoms belonging to 21 genera were reoognized. As a result of the detailed research on the diatom assemblages from the Xihu Lake sediments, 9 diatom assemblages were distinguished. From diatom and Cysts (Chrysophyta) data, the changes of the Palaeoenvironments and Palaeoclimate and their age are discussed.     

Reconstructing past eutrophication trends from diatoms and biogenic silica in the sediment and the pelagic zone of Lake Constance, Germany

In Lake Constance, phosphorus concentrations and the seasonal development of phytoplankton communities in water samples from the pelagic zone were regularly recorded since the 1950's. Before the 1950's, there were occasional investigations of plankton communities since 1896. We compared these data with the sedimentary record in two sediment cores. Then, the eutrophication history of Lake Constance was inferred from diatoms. The record of biogenic silica in the cores is discussed with respect to diatom biomass increase.Diatom assemblages in the sediment cores precisely reflected the pelagic diatom development for the period 1971--1992. Both sediment cores and the water samples have a high interannual variability of diatom assemblages. Below a sediment depth of 27 cm (AD 1920), more than 50% of the diatoms were partly corroded, and we limited the reconstruction of trophic state changes to the interval of 1920--1993. Oligotrophic conditions of Lake Constance were indicated by the dominance of various Cyclotella taxa from 1920 to 1940. Since 1939/1940, increasing abundance of it Tabellaria fenestrata showed oligotrophic to mesotrophic conditions. Between 1953 and 1956, increasing Stephanodiscus hantzschii and disappearing Cyclotella indicated advanced eutrophication and total phosphorus values ranged between 8--10 mg m-3 during turnover in late winter. Further eutrophication was shown by disappearing T. fenestrata and increasing S. minutulus in 1963. Maximum TP concentrations of 87 mg m-3 occurred in 1979/80 and was accompanied by increasing abundances of Aulacoseira granulata. From 1986 to 1992, reoccurrence of Tabellaria fenestrata and Cyclotella indicate some recovery of Lake Constance.Biogenic silica and diatom abundances were similar among cores but indicate a 3--4 fold increase of diatom biomass only. This was far below the estimate of biomass increase from sedimentary pigment data (25 fold) and the estimate of phytoplankton data from the literature (70 fold).     

The misrepresentation of the planktonic diatom assemblage in traps and sediments: southern Lake Malaŵi,Africa

Sediment trap collections near Cape Maclear, Lake Malai, were compared to phytoplankton and surface sediment diatoms to assess taphonomic variations. The sedimenting diatom community became progressively different from the diatom plankton with increasing depth: long Nitzschia species were strongly under-represented in the traps (annually, 53% among planktonic diatoms vs. 14% in the offshore 29 m trap; p0.005 by Kruskal-Wallis test), while Melosira was greatly over-represented in traps (32% vs. 57%; p<0.005). The abundances of the minor taxa (Rhopalodia, Fragilaria, Cymbella, and Surirella) were greatly enhanced in traps relative to the plankton, but they were still relatively uncommon (<3% of all diatoms each). Differences in grazing, dissolution, and sinking rates alone are insufficient to account for these distortions; a combination of these, plus perhaps unknown factors, strongly influence the deposited assemblage.These misrepresentations were also present at the sediment surface. The greatest discrepancy was noted for Melosira (32% of plankton vs. 53% of sediment surface diatoms; p<0.005) and for elongate Nitzschia species (53% of plankton vs. 0.8% in sediments; p<0.005). In Lake Malai, at least, paleolimnologists must not assume a straightforward correlation of modern and fossil assemblages.     

楚科奇海浮冰区夏季短期颗粒有机物通量及其主要组分

中国首次北极科学考察期间 ,于 8月 2 0- 2 3日在楚科奇海浮冰区联合冰站实施了为期 4天的短期颗粒有机物通量研究。结果显示真光层的颗粒有机碳通量为 1 .582mgCm- 2 day- 1 ,2 2 0m深层为 1 .339mgCm- 2 day- 1 ,而相应的沉降颗粒物总通量分别高达 8.788和 1 0 .30 3mgm- 2 day- 1 。显示北极浮冰区的夏季融冰季节后期 ,颗粒有机碳通量的水平较低。与颗粒有机碳通量水平相似 ,生源硅和活性磷的通量水平也较低。对硅藻通量组份的分析表明 ,真光层沉降硅藻的优势种为Nitzschiacf.seriata、Naviculaglacialis和Melosirasp .,而 2 2 0m层则Lepto cylindrussp .占绝对优势 ,其丰度数量百分比均超过 70 %。硅藻碳通量的绝对值较低 ,为0 .1 0 7- 0 .1 1 3mgCm- 2 day- 1 。然而 ,真光层大型桡足类的碳估算值高达 1 0 8.67mgCm- 2day- 1 ,占浮游动物总碳量的 95 .3 % ,大型浮游动物的表观碳通量高于浮游植物碳通量 2- 3个数量级 ,显示楚科奇海夏季融冰期高浮游动物碳量、低浮游植物碳量的特点。但浮游动物表观碳量高的主要原因与浮游动物的昼夜垂直运动有关 ,却并非是实际向深层海洋传输的碳量     

南极长城湾夏季浮游植物变化特征

用南极长城湾水域１９９２～１９９５年三个夏季（１２月～３月）网采浮游植物样品,分析了浮游植物种类组成和数量分布。共鉴定浮游植物７２种,其中三个夏季都采到的共有种３３种,占总种数的４５．８３％;各年夏季浮游植物细胞数量平均值分别为６８７３．８２×１０４个／ｍ３、２０８．４８×１０４个／ｍ３和１０２７．３６×１０４个／ｍ３。主要优势种有聚生角毛藻（Ｃｈａｅｔｏｃｅｒｏｓｓｏｃｉａｌｉｓ）、海链藻属（Ｔｈａｌａｓｉｏｓｉｒａｓｐｐ．）、脆杆藻属（Ｆｒａｇｉｌａｒｉａｓｐｐ）、珍珠异极藻（Ｇｏｍｐｈｏｎｅｍａｍａｒｇａｒｉｔｘ）和扁面角毛藻（Ｃｈａｅｔｏ－ｃｅｒｏｓｃｏｍｐｒｅｓｕｓ）等。结果表明,各夏季种类组成基本相似;数量有明显的年际变化;湾内和湾口数量变化趋势一致     

Late Pleistocene and Holocene history of Lake Terrasovoje,Amery Oasis,East Antarctica,and its climatic and environmental implications

A 5.52 m long sediment sequence was recovered from Lake Terrasovoje, Amery Oasis, East Antarctica, in order to reconstruct the regional environmental history. The basal sediments, which are dominated by glacial and glaciofluvial clastic sediments, attest to a Late Pleistocene deglaciation of the lake basin. These sediments are overlain by 2.70 m of laminated algal and microbial mats and a few interspersed moss layers. Radiocarbon dating, conducted on bulk organic carbon of 12 samples throughout the organic sequence, provides a reliable chronology since the onset of biogenic accumulation at c. 12,400 cal. year BP. Successful diatom colonization, however, was probably hampered by extensive ice and snow cover on the lake and restricted input of nutrients until 10,200 cal. year BP. A subsequent increase of nutrient supply culminated between 8600 and 8200 cal. year BP and is related to warm summer temperatures and reduced albedo in the catchment. Warm conditions lasted until 6700 cal. year BP, supporting the establishment of a diatom community. Colder temperatures from 6700 cal. year BP culminated in several periods between 6200 and 3700 cal. year BP, when high amounts of sulphur and low abundances of diatoms were deposited due to a perennial ice and snow cover on the lake. During the late Holocene, relatively warm conditions between 3200 and 2300 cal. year BP and between 1500 to 1000 cal. year BP, respectively, indicated by high accumulation of organic matter and reducing bottom water conditions, were interrupted and followed by colder periods.     

Factors affecting diatom distribution in floodplain lakes of the southeast Murray Basin,Australia and implications for palaeolimnological studies

Diatom assemblages of surface sediments in 46 billabongs from four river floodplains in the southeast Murray-Darling Basin, Australia were sampled to investigate drivers of species distribution. The principal purpose of the study was to derive information to aid interpretation of diatom-based palaeoecological studies of these systems and of floodplain lakes more generally. Patterns in billabong diatom assemblages in relation to river reach, hydrology and farming intensity on surrounding land were examined, as were correlations with water quality variables. Seasonal variation in billabong water quality was high relative to spatial variation, and spatial patterns in billabong water quality were weak. In contrast, strong patterns were evident in diatom assemblages. Three main patterns were observed: (1) a distinction between billabongs dominated by planktonic diatoms from those dominated by benthic and attached forms; (2) differences in diatom assemblages in billabongs on different river reaches; and (3) differences in assemblages in billabongs with different hydrology. Of all water quality variables tested, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN) and pH exerted the strongest independent influence on diatom distribution; however, only TP remained an important variable when species variation due to river reach, hydrology, and aquatic plant cover was taken into account. The weak influence of water quality on diatom distribution is interpreted as reflecting the dichotomy between plankton and non-plankton-dominated billabongs, the influence of hydrology and biogeography, the lack of strong spatial water quality gradients and the high degree of temporal variability in water quality. The findings show that diatom records from billabong sediments can provide evidence of long-term changes in the abundance of aquatic macrophytes and hydrology. They also suggest that merging calibration data sets across regions for the purpose of improving diatom transfer functions for water quality reconstruction is of limited value for floodplain lakes, and that performance is more likely to be gained by boosting site numbers within regions.     

Sedimentation patterns of diatoms in Lake Holzmaar, Germany - (on the transfer of climate signals to biogenic silica oxygen isotope proxies)

The seasonal sedimentation pattern of diatom valves in Lake Holzmaar was investigated during 1995 by deploying sediment traps at three different lake depths. According to the sedimentation pattern, the major reproduction zone of diatoms was restricted to the upper 6 m of the water body. The population growth started late in April and blooms of Cyclotella cf. comensis Grun., which dominates the plankton diatoms, and Fragilaria crotonensis Kitton were collected in traps during June and September, and July, respectively. During summer, the seasonal sedimentation pattern of each taxon, as collected in the upper traps, was reflected in the concentrations in the lowest trap. However, in May and from September onwards, the community composition in the lowest trap and augmented trapping rates suggest both sediment focusing and resuspension of bottom sediments.The temperature signals as recorded by 18O values of diatom valves should, therefore, reflect integrated temperatures between 0 and 6 m depth. However, temperatures during summer and autumn are expected to be accentuated in the sedimentary record since the isotopic signal is weighted by both the number and the weight-mass of the valves. During summer, the transfer of these signals by the sedimenting diatoms retains the information pattern recorded, while in spring and autumn/winter additional influxes caused by resuspension may somewhat alter those temperature informations. The proxy signals finally stored in the sediments, may, therefore, not precisely represent the successive temperatures currently recorded during 1995 within mid-lake.     

Copepod grazing and its potential impact on the phytoplankton development in the Barents Sea

Compiled data from published and unpublished sources on copepod grazing of the large-sized copepods in the Barents Sea give wide ranges in grazing rates. Approximate average values indicate daily rations of 7–18% for copepodite stages V and VI and considerably higher values for the earliest copepodite stages. It is demonstrated that individual variability in gut fullness of copepods from a given locality is typically very high and not closely related to variable food abundance or depth of occurrence. There is no diel feeding rhythm during the summer, and even when relating copepod grazing to a number of biotic and abiotic factors through stepwise linear regression analysis, much of the variability remains unexplained. It is suggested that feeding behaviour, food quality and feeding history of the copepods all play important roles as factors which regulate copepod grazing. Model simulations on the phytoplankton succession, using literature data on laboratory-determined growth characteristics for solitary cells and colonies of the prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis pouchetii and large diatoms, indicate that the extent of the mixed layer and selective grazing by zooplankton are important factors that may explain the occurrence of dense blooms of P. pouchetii colonies, frequently observed during the spring.