Response of Phytoplankton to Changes in Hydrographic Properties in A Subtropical Embayment in the Sea of Oman

Khalid Al-Hashmi, Y. V.B. Sarma, Sergey Piontkovsky, Paul J. Harrison, Harib Al-Habsi

Abstract


This paper discusses six years of phytoplankton response to the hydrographic properties of a subtropical embayment in the sea of Oman from April 2006 through April 2011. A total of 278 dinoflagellate and diatom taxa were recorded during a study The Dinophyceae contributed the highest number of species (166) followed by Bacillariophyceae (112). The number of genera present was largest during the Southwest Monsoon (SWM) followed by the Northeast Monsoon (NEM) and lowest during the Spring Intermonsoon (SPIM) with considerable interannual variability. Dinoflagellates were the most important group in the Bay of Bandar Khayran. They constituted 59.7 % of the total species identified in the Bay and dominated the total phytoplankton population most of the years with 83% of the total abundance. Diatoms were the second important group and contributed 40.3 % to the total species identified in the Bay and  only 17% of the total abundance during the study period. Diatoms were observed in higher abundance during 2006 and 2010 than in the rest of other years, particularly during NEM and SWM when silicate concentrations was elevated. Increases in diatom abundance and their association with nutrients and silicate were coupled primarily with a decrease in temperature. A weak association was found between dinoflagellate species and nutrients. The small size dinoflagellates (15-55 μm)  dominated the population and persisted annually.  This implies a minor effect of grazing pressure on these species beside their less demand on high nutrients concentrations.

Keywords


Sea of Oman; Arabian Sea; Monsoon and Up-welling; Diatoms; Dinoflagellate.

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