Spatial patterns in abundance, taxonomic composition and carbon biomass of nano- and microphytoplankton in Subarctic and Arctic Seas

This study highlights how diatoms and dinoflagellates are the main drivers of large-scale variations in C biomass for phytoplankton (> 2 µm), whereas unidentified flagellates/coccoids (2-8 µm) make a significant contribution to C biomass in oligotrophic domains, such as BS-CB, where diatoms and dinoflagellates are less abundant. Reduced surface water density (σT) was associated with deeper SCM layers, and with decreased C biomass of unidentified flagellates/coccoids (2-8 µm). These observations confirm recent studies highlighting the role of surface water stratification caused by melting sea ice in shaping nano- and microphytoplankton assemblages.