Seasonal variability of plankton blooms in the Ria de Ferrol (NW Spain): II. Plankton abundance, composition and biomass

The abundance, taxonomic composition and biomass of plankton components were studied in the mostly eutrophic waters of the Ria de Ferrol (Galicia, NW Spain) in contrasting seasons. Three stations arranged in a transect along the main ria axis were sampled during cruises in February, May, July and September 2000. Phytoplankton, bacteria, micro- (40-200 μm) and mesozooplankton (>200 μm) compartments were considered. Phytoplankton blooms (>103 cel ml−1) and high total plankton biomass (up to 44 g C m−2) was found at all seasons, except in winter when values were <1 g C m−2. Phytoplankton generally accounted for most of total plankton biomass, particularly in late summer, thus driving most of plankton dynamics. The blooming species were always diatoms, either fast-growing, chain-forming species, well adapted to relatively turbulent conditions (e.g. Chaetoceros socialis), or disturbance-tolerant, estuarine adapted species (e.g. Skeletonema costatum). In addition, microflagellates (<10 μm) reached high abundances, particularly during summer. The influence of shelf waters, where coastal upwelling events are frequent for most of the spring and summer, prevents the establishment of a marked pycnocline and the dominance of dinoflagellates. Microheterotrophs (bacteria, protozoa and larval stages of metazoa) increased their abundance and biomass from winter to late summer, while mesozooplankton peaked in spring and summer. Zooplankton dynamics were characterised by the presence of large numbers of larvae of both planktonic copepods and benthic metazoans, the latter mainly cirripeds and bivalve molluscs. The absence of a definite succession pattern in the mesozooplankton species abundance data, in contrast with phytoplankton data, along with the dominance of estuarine species (e.g. Acartia margalefi), suggest that mesozooplankton communities inside the ria behave differently from communities in shelf waters. Despite its small size and reduced influence of upwelling compared with other Galician rias, the input of shelf waters in the Ria de Ferrol drives massive phytoplankton blooms supporting a rich heterotrophic community.