Publication Abstract

Pelagic flagellate populations in the southern North Sea, 1988-89.
I. Qualitative observations

G. Novarino, D.K. Mills and F. Hannah

During the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) North Sea Community Programme 1987-1992, pelagic flagellate populations in the southern North Sea were examined during the period 1988-89. Not less than 84 species of flagellates were found, of which 73 could be identified down to genus or species level using light or scanning electron microscopy: 52 dinoflagellates, six cryptomonads, five green flagellates, four prymnesiomonads, two chrysomonads, one euglenid, one silicoflagellate, one bodonid and one flagellate incertae sedis. In addition, there were not less than six unidentified species of flagellates incertae sedis, two small (<15 wm) unidentified naked dinoflagellates, one unidentified cryptomonad, one unidentified coccolithophorid, and unspecified numbers of unidentified species of choanoflagellates. There were 44 phototrophs (of which eight were mixotrophic or possibly so), 35 heterotrophs, and five flagellates whose mode of nutrition is unknown. A total of 12 flagellates were found in all of the areas investigated, while another nine were found in one area only. Areas 9 (German coastal water near Helgoland) and 1(Anglian coastal mixed water) were the most and least species rich, respectively. Observations on size-diversity relationships suggested that the highest diversity of flagellates occurred close to the lower limits of the size ranges. Some interesting or rarely reported flagellates are described.

Reference:

G. Novarino, D.K. Mills and F. Hannah, 1997. Pelagic flagellate populations in the southern North Sea, 1988-89. I. Qualitative observations. Journal of Plankton Research, 19(8): 1081-1109.