Phytoplankton Distribution

Distribution of Phytoplankton in California

Types of distributionRegional distribution

Vertical distribution (depth)

Factors influencing distribution off the coast of CaliforniaUpwellingContinental shelf processes Davidson currentCalifornia currentEl Nino eventsSeason and photoperiod

Trends in distribution in CaliforniaCan be separated into inshore and offshore

groups (Venrick, 1998)Large annual variation in productivityHigher productivity is associated with more

intense upwellingLatitudinal variability in groups present

Commonly occurring genera distance from shore(Venrick, 1998)Inshore : Chaetoceros, Skeletonema, Pseudo-

nitzschia, EmilianiaOffshore: Emiliania, Gephyrocapsa, Nitzschia,

Fragilariopsis

Vertical distributionInfluenced by thermocline, light penetration

and mixing

(Klausmeier and Lichtman, 2001)

Literature CitedKlausmeier CA, Lichtman E. (2001) Algal Games: The Vertical

Distribution of Phytoplankton in Poorly Mixed Water Columns Limnology and Oceanography. 46: 1998-2007

Venrick EL. (1998) Spring in the California Current: the distribution of phytoplankton species. Ecol Prog Ser. 167: 73-88, 1998

Reid FMH, Stewart E, Eppley RW, Goldman D. (1978) Distribution of Phytoplankton Species in Chlorophyll Maximum Layers Off Southern California. Limnology and Oceanography. 23: 219-226

Sosik HM, Mitchell BG. (1995). Light absorption by phytoplankton, photosynthetic pigments and detritus in the California Current System. Marine Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093- 0218, U.S.A.