ISSN:
1751-8369
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Geography
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Sea foam and sea-surface films are pelagic habitats of common origin. This suggests a possible similarity between their microplanktonic assemblages and an a priori possibility to use foam samples in qualitative sea-surface film studies. The composition and abundance of microheterotrophs (nanoflagellates 〈5 μm and bacteria) in the Dalnezelenetskaya Inlet, Kola Peninsula, Barents Sea, in August 1987, was nearly identical in the foam and sea-surface film samples. In contrast, the enrichment of foam with autotrophs (nano- and microphytoplankton) exceeded by an order of magnitude that of sea-surface films, whereas their taxonomic compositions were virtually identical in both habitats. Elevated growth rates of phytoplankton in sea foam appear to be an ecological mechanism responsible for the enrichment.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-8369.1997.tb00253.x
