Contrasting Summer Phytoplankton Communities in Stratified
and Mixed Waters of the White Sea

L. V. Ilyash^a, I. G. Radchenko^a, V. P. Shevchenko^b, R. E. Zdorovennov^c, and A. N. Pantyulin^d

^a Department of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

^b Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

^c Institute of Northern Water Problems of the Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russia

^d Department of Geography, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

e-mail: ilyashl@mail.ru

Received September 2, 2013; in final form, February 8, 2014

Abstract—The species composition and biomass of the phytoplankton, as well as the hydrophysical character-
istics of the water masses have been analyzed in different regions of the White Sea at 37 stations during the
period from June 20 to July 3, 2008. Three communities with different structures have been identified, each
associated with water masses with specific structures and dynamics. The community dominated by Skele-
tonema costatum has been growing in Dvina Bay in stratified waters with the highest temperature and the lowest
salinity compared with the other areas of the sea. The community dominated by Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii
has been associated with mixed waters of Onega Bay and adjacent areas of the Basin with low temperatures and
high salinity. The community dominated by dinoflagellates has been growing in different areas of the sea: both
in stratified and mixed waters. The average phytoplankton biomass in the surface water layer and the total bio-
mass under 1 m² in the studied areas have been 134 ± 157 mg C/m³ (n = 37) and 1157 ± 874mg C/m² (n = 18),
respectively.

DOI: 10.1134/S0001437014050075

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