Structure and spatial distribution of winter phytoplankton of the Curonian Lagoon (Baltic Sea)

Abstract

The winter phytoplankton of the Russian part of the hyper-trophic Curonian Lagoon (Baltic Sea) was studied in 2010. Diatoms, cyanobacteria and cryptomonads prevailed in phytoplankton. Diatom Aulacoseira islandica was dominant and especially prevailing in the southern area of the lagoon, i. e. the area influenced by the Deyma River. Cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii was also a dominant species. The composition of the complex of dominant species and vertical distribution of phytoplankton differed compared to the results obtained 30 years ago in the same area. The study revealed the increase of the abundance of winter phytoplankton compared to the formerly recorded data.