Mass development of the planktonic diatom Proboscia alata over the bering sea shelf in the summer season

During most of the vegetation season from late May to early September, the large-sized diatom alga Proboscia alata forms local patches with high abundances and biomasses in different oceanographic domains of the eastern Bering Sea shelf. The average abundance and biomass of the species in these patches amounts to 0.7 × 10⁶ cells/l and 5 g WW/m³, respectively, for the layer of 0–25 m, while the corresponding estimates for the layer of the maximal species concentrations are 4.0 × 10⁶ cells/l and 38 g WW/m³ (1.6 g C/m³). These levels of abundance and biomass are typical of the spring diatom bloom in the region. The outbursts of P. alata mass development are an important element of carbon cycling in the pelagic zone of the shelf area in the summer season. The paradox of the P. alata summertime blooms over the middle shelf lies in their occurrences against the background of the sharp seasonal pycnocline and the deficiency in nutrients in the upper mixed layer. The duration of the outbursts in the P. alata development is about two weeks and the size of the patches with high abundances can be as large as 200 km across. Degradation of the P. alata summertime outbursts may occur during 4–5 days. The rapid sinking of the cells through the seasonal pycnocline results in an intense transport of organic matter to the bottom sediments. One of the possible factors responsible for the rapid degradation of the blooms is the affect on the population by ectoparasitic flagellates. At the terminal stages of the P. alata blooms, the share of infected cells may reach 70–99%.