title: Evaluation of phytoplankton community composition in the eutrophic Masan Bay by HPLC pigment analysis.
abstract: To assess the spatiotemporal changes in phytoplankton community composition in relation to the environment of Masan Bay, a semi-enclosed bay on the southern coast of Korea, photosynthetic pigments and environmental variables were analyzed in seawater, every month between March and November 2010. The level of dissolved inorganic nutrients was highest between July and September when the freshwater influx was at its peak, whereas chlorophyll a level was highest in April and August. Phosphate concentration was low in April (average: 0.22 +/- 0.17 microM), indicating the role of phosphate as a growth-limiting factor for phytoplankton. The results of pigment analysis indicate that dinoflagellate blooms occurred under favorable conditions, where competition with diatoms occurred. Fucoxanthin- and chlorophyll b-containing phytoplankton dominated the surface layer of Masan Bay from July to September. The composition of phytoplankton community in Masan Bay changed dramatically each month according to variations in the amount and composition of nutrients introduced through surface runoff.
authors.forename: Jeong Bae
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sokjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Won-Chan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoonsik
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005068:Eutrophication / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000737:chemistry*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological