Spatial variability in local plankton communities can have large effects on the composition and diversity of the secondary production with in an area. Therefore, it is important for scientists to study the factors that affect plankton community’s abundance, diversity and dominance. In this study multiple physical and biological factors were observed in order to examine how surface plankton communities varied with distance from shore in the nearshore environment of the Southern California Bight. Through this study we have identified that small phytoplankton, predominately dinoflagellates, dominate the stratified waters off of the coast of Dana Point. As well as identifying other abiotic factors that directly affect the vertical and horizontal
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Therefore, understanding variation of plankton communities with distance from shore will allow us to better understand how the unique features of the California bight influence their distribution. In order to do this water samples from three locations within the Southern California Bight were collected in order to analyze the planktonic community present both vertically and horizontally off the coast. Biotic factors such as salinity, temperature and nutrients were also …show more content…
The difference between the two filter chlorophyll a concentrations is the presence of the smaller phytoplankton in the community. This allowed us to determine the dominant size of phytoplankton at each station. Chlorophyll a concentration was analyzed by extracting chlorophyll a from the respective filter and measuring fluorescence present in the sample. The filters were placed in centrifuge tubes with 90% acetone and placed into a freezer overnight. The next day, 1 mL of the sample was measured by a fluorometer. After each initial reading, the cuvette was removed from the fluorometer and 30 μL of 0.1 M HCl was added. The solution was gently mixed and the sample was re-analyzed with the fluorometer. Pure chlorophyll a was used to find sensitivity calibration factors in order to calculate the concentration of chlorophyll a in the filter samples based on EPA Method for In Vitro Chlorophyll a analysis by Fluorescence (Arar, E.J. and Collins, G.B.,
Therefore, understanding variation of plankton communities with distance from shore will allow us to better understand how the unique features of the California bight influence their distribution. In order to do this water samples from three locations within the Southern California Bight were collected in order to analyze the planktonic community present both vertically and horizontally off the coast. Biotic factors such as salinity, temperature and nutrients were also …show more content…
The difference between the two filter chlorophyll a concentrations is the presence of the smaller phytoplankton in the community. This allowed us to determine the dominant size of phytoplankton at each station. Chlorophyll a concentration was analyzed by extracting chlorophyll a from the respective filter and measuring fluorescence present in the sample. The filters were placed in centrifuge tubes with 90% acetone and placed into a freezer overnight. The next day, 1 mL of the sample was measured by a fluorometer. After each initial reading, the cuvette was removed from the fluorometer and 30 μL of 0.1 M HCl was added. The solution was gently mixed and the sample was re-analyzed with the fluorometer. Pure chlorophyll a was used to find sensitivity calibration factors in order to calculate the concentration of chlorophyll a in the filter samples based on EPA Method for In Vitro Chlorophyll a analysis by Fluorescence (Arar, E.J. and Collins, G.B.,