Abstract:

Species composition and concentration of the phytoplankton were analyzed from net samples in three summers (December to March in the year of 1992-1995) in the Antarctic Great Wall Bay. A total of 72 species were identified, 45 83% of which, i.e. 33 species, were found in all three summers. Total concentrations of the phytoplankton in the three summers averaged 6873 82×10 4 , 208 48×10 4 and 1027 36×10 4 cells/m 3, respectively. The dominant species were Chaetoceros socialis, Thalassiosira spp., Fragilaria spp., Gomphonema margaritx and Chaetoceros compressus . The results show that species composition of the phytoplankton is similar in the summers, whereas the total cell number changs significantly from one summer to another,and the cell number variation is similar at both inside and the mouth of the bay.