M. V. Flint and I. N. Sukhanova
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Received June 4, 2002
Abstract—The features of the quantitative distribution and structure of phytoplankton related to the coastal
tidal fronts around Saint Paul and Saint George islands were studied in the period from the end of May to
August. It was shown that, at the coastal fronts and in the coastal zones, the phytoplankton abundance and bio-
mass could reach a level typical of the period of the spring bloom. The forming of the high phytoplankton abun-
dance in this area has an irregular character determined by the physical processes in the frontal zone. The mech-
anisms resulting in the enrichment of the frontal and coastal zones near the islands in mineral forms of nutrients
are discussed, namely, (1) the transfrontal transfer and (2) the breakdown of the frontal structure under the
action of strong winds. It was found that the frontal zone was the boundary of the special coastal biotope.
Despite the existing transfrontal transfer, it restricts the exchange between the coastal and adjacent shelf areas.
The processes occurring in the coastal frontal zones are of great importance for the productivity of the shelf
ecosystem in the period from the spring bloom to the end of the vegetation season.
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