Pig. 10. Correlation between bacteria
(celllml) and chlorophyll a concentrations (p.g/l). The line is based on a
log-linear regression. Bacteria =
371128x 10g(chlorophyU)+ l.205x10 6 •
r=0.69, n=65 p
Gulf, we can reasonably expect that the oligotrophy of the area is a transient and unstable condition.
Conclusions
This study shows that the ultraplankton features
are ruled by the physics of the area at mesoscale.
The physical variability determines the biological variability and, in turn, biological features
can be used as markers of water masses or physical structures. An example of this is ultraplankton, due to its small size and lack of independent
motion. The Gulf of Naples appears to be at an
alternating balance between the oligotrophic
offshore system and the coastal meso-eutrophic
waters, similar to that observed by Scotto di
Carlo et al. (1985) and Zingone et al. (1995). In
general, we conclude that. although chlorophyll
concentrations are typically oligotrophic. and so
are nutrient concentrations (data not shown).
the planktonic compartment of the Gulf of
Naples maintains its mesotrophic characteristics, even at seasons not favourable to algal
development.
0.01
Ultraplankton of the Gulf of Naples
179
0.10
chlorophyll a (jIgl)
•
•
1.00
Acknowledgements. The authors wish to thank Federico
Carato and Gianluca Zazzo for their technical help with sampling and data handling and the captain and the crew of HN
Vettoria.
References
Andersen RA, Saunders GW. Paskind MP, Sexton J (1993)
mtrastructure and 18S rRNA gene sequence for
Pelagomonas calceolata gen. Et sp. nov. and the description
of a new algal class, the Pe1agophyceae classis nov. J Phycol
29: 701-715
Bautista B, Jimenez-Gomez F (1996) mtraphytoplankton photoacclimation through flaw cytometry and pigment analysis of
mediterranean coastal waters. Sci Marina 60 (Suppl I): 233-241
Binder BJ, Chisholm SW, Olson HI, Frankel SL. Worden AZ (1996)
Dynamics of picophytoplankton, ultraphytoplankton and
bacteria .in the central equatorial Pacific. Deep-Sea Res II
43(4-6): 907-931
Brunet C, Brylinski JM, Lemoine Y (1993) In situ variations of the
xanthophylls diatoxanthin and diadinoxanthin: photoadaptation and relationships with an hydrodynamical system in
the eastern English Channel. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 120(1): 69-77
Buck KR, Chavez FP. Campbell L (1997) Basin-wide distributions
of living carbon components and the inverted trophic pyramid of the central gyre of the North Atlantic Ocean. summer
1993. Aquat Micro EcoIIO: 283-298
Campbell L, Liu H, Nolla HA. Vaulot D (1997) Annual variability
of phytoplankton and bacteria in the subtropical North
Pacific Ocean at Station ALOHA during the 1991-1994 ENSO
event. Deep-Sea Res I 44(2): 167-192
(celllml) and chlorophyll a concentrations (p.g/l). The line is based on a
log-linear regression. Bacteria =
371128x 10g(chlorophyU)+ l.205x10 6 •
r=0.69, n=65 p
Gulf, we can reasonably expect that the oligotrophy of the area is a transient and unstable condition.
Conclusions
This study shows that the ultraplankton features
are ruled by the physics of the area at mesoscale.
The physical variability determines the biological variability and, in turn, biological features
can be used as markers of water masses or physical structures. An example of this is ultraplankton, due to its small size and lack of independent
motion. The Gulf of Naples appears to be at an
alternating balance between the oligotrophic
offshore system and the coastal meso-eutrophic
waters, similar to that observed by Scotto di
Carlo et al. (1985) and Zingone et al. (1995). In
general, we conclude that. although chlorophyll
concentrations are typically oligotrophic. and so
are nutrient concentrations (data not shown).
the planktonic compartment of the Gulf of
Naples maintains its mesotrophic characteristics, even at seasons not favourable to algal
development.
0.01
Ultraplankton of the Gulf of Naples
179
0.10
chlorophyll a (jIgl)
•
•
1.00
Acknowledgements. The authors wish to thank Federico
Carato and Gianluca Zazzo for their technical help with sampling and data handling and the captain and the crew of HN
Vettoria.
References
Andersen RA, Saunders GW. Paskind MP, Sexton J (1993)
mtrastructure and 18S rRNA gene sequence for
Pelagomonas calceolata gen. Et sp. nov. and the description
of a new algal class, the Pe1agophyceae classis nov. J Phycol
29: 701-715
Bautista B, Jimenez-Gomez F (1996) mtraphytoplankton photoacclimation through flaw cytometry and pigment analysis of
mediterranean coastal waters. Sci Marina 60 (Suppl I): 233-241
Binder BJ, Chisholm SW, Olson HI, Frankel SL. Worden AZ (1996)
Dynamics of picophytoplankton, ultraphytoplankton and
bacteria .in the central equatorial Pacific. Deep-Sea Res II
43(4-6): 907-931
Brunet C, Brylinski JM, Lemoine Y (1993) In situ variations of the
xanthophylls diatoxanthin and diadinoxanthin: photoadaptation and relationships with an hydrodynamical system in
the eastern English Channel. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 120(1): 69-77
Buck KR, Chavez FP. Campbell L (1997) Basin-wide distributions
of living carbon components and the inverted trophic pyramid of the central gyre of the North Atlantic Ocean. summer
1993. Aquat Micro EcoIIO: 283-298
Campbell L, Liu H, Nolla HA. Vaulot D (1997) Annual variability
of phytoplankton and bacteria in the subtropical North
Pacific Ocean at Station ALOHA during the 1991-1994 ENSO
event. Deep-Sea Res I 44(2): 167-192