Seasonal Dynamics of the Diatoms of the Genus Chaetoceros Ehrenberg in Amursky Bay (Sea of Japan)

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the Chaetoceros Ehr. species was studied in Amursky Bay (Sea of Japan) from January 1996 until May 1998. In all, 30 species, 1 variety, and 1 form of this genus were registered. The species Chaetoceros occurred in plankton throughout the year at a water temperature of –1.8–25°C and a salinity of 11–35. The numbers of Chaetoceros species varied between 100 and 1071000 cells/l, and the biomass varied between 0.9 × 10^–3 and 3.3 g/m³. The numbers were maximum in summer and minimum in the beginning of spring. The Chaetoceros species comprised 45–70 and 5–18% (winter), 68–98 and 65–95% (spring), 50% (summer), and 20% (autumn) of the total phytoplankton numbers and biomass. Six dominant species and 1 variety of Chaetoceros were found. Seasonal complexes formed by the Chaetoceros species were identified and described.