November 2024
·
4 Reads
Oceanographic cruise with 59 stations in the eastern Atlantic Ocean (EAO) from October 15 to November 14, 2005. Data were collected on phytoplankton bio-optical variability of suspended particulate matter (ap) and photosynthetic pigment analysis at two depth levels (surface and 10 m), where values of light absorption coefficient by phytoplankton (aph) and non-pigmented material (ad) were determined, as well as the pigment composition of phytoplankton through the HPLC technique. In general, the Atlantic Ocean region showed oligotrophic characteristics, except in the northern Bay of Biscay and Cape Town region. In these two regions, high values of aph440 and chlorophyll-carotenoids were observed. The most relevant chlorophylls/carotenoids were: divinyl chlorophyll a (Dvchla), zeaxanthin (Zea), hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (Hex-fuco), fucoxanthin (Fuco); so we assume that the different phytoplankton assemblages were: Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, prymnesiophytes, diatoms, and dinoflagellates that were present during