Diatoms and dinoflagellates in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea - Antarctica) during austral summer 1990

During January/February 1990 the floristic composition and biomass of diatoms and dinoflagellates in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea) were investigated. The study area included eight stations, seven of which were inshore and one offshore. Of the 94 taxa identified, 58 were diatoms and 34 were dinoflagellates. Cell densities were higher in surface layers and particularly at two stations, one located at the centre of the bay, and the other to the south of the Terra Nova station. While density data showed that the diatoms predominated over the dinoflagellates and over Phaeocystis sp., the biomass values were largely made up of the dinoflagellates contribution.