Hydrophysical correlation and water mass indication of optical physiological parameters of picophytoplankton in Prydz Bay during autumn 2008

► Five optical physiological factors of picophytoplankton in Prydz Bay were studied ► High temperature and salinity, declining light can increase the fixation of carbon ► Pure water masses increases the content of chlorophylls and cellular carbon ► Watermass has stronger effects on these factors than both temperature and salinity ► These factors can be as indictors to different water masses in Prydz Bay