An experimental simulation of changes in diatom and flagellate blooms

The sequence of events from a diatom to a flagellate bloom were simulated in a large sea-water enclosure. The two factors used to control the sequence were light and nutrients. The results indicate that diatom growth can be manipulated to occur under specific conditions of light intensity and nutrient concentrations. Once diatom growth has begun it appears to be more rapid than that of the flagellates. The importance of this experiment to the study of food chain Ecology in the sea is discussed.