Between, May 1966 and May 1967, 110 preserved samples of the phytoplankton of Lake Rotorua, New Zealand, were examined. Species and cell counts have been compared with data from Lakes Rotoiti (21 samples) and Ohakuri (36 net samples). Brief comparisons have also been made with the flora of two of the Wellington City reservoirs and the oxidation ponds at Mangere, Auckland. In Lake Rotorua the autumn, maximum was more pronounced than the spring maximum. Cell numbers inshore at Kawaha Point were consistently lower than those further out in the open lake. The phytoplankton is classified as a eutrophic formation of the diatom type, with Chlorophyceae as main subordinates. Dominants include Melosira granulata Ralfs (winter, spring, and autumn), Melosira distans (Ehr.) Kütz. (spring, summer, and autumn), and Asterionella formosa Hass. (summer and autumn).

In a 1973-74 survey of preserved phytoplankton from Lakes Rotoiti, Rotoehu, Rotoma and Waikaremoana, 205 algal taxa (including 111 Chlorophyta, 56 Chrysophyta, 17 Cyanophyta, 16 Pyrrhophyta, and 5 Euglenophyta) were found. The greatest number of species was found in Lake Rotoehu, but monthly maxima based on cell counts were usually greater in Lake Rotoiti. A summer bloom of the toxic blue-green alga Aphanizomenon flos-aquae occurred in Lake Rotoehu. Each lake had its own pattern of dominance. Surface and subsurface samples showed marked differences in species composition and abundance. Diatoms were important winter and spring components, with desmids forming conspicuous subordinates. Cemtium hirundinella was prominent in subsurface layers of Lakes Rotoma and Waikaremoana.Compound indices (ratios of number of species of most other algae to that of desmids) point to Lake Rotoehu as extremely eutrophic, to Lake Rotoma as moderately eutrophic, and to Lakes Rotoiti and Waikaremoana as oligotrophic rather than meso-or eutrophic.

The minimum amount of cyanocohalamin for production of one $ of cell was estimated for 7 clones of marine centric diatoms isolated from cstuarinc, neritic, and oceanic environments. The number of molcculcs of B12 per $ varied from 5 to 18.4; thus the diatoms have about the same requirement as do other organisms. The neritic species Skeletonema

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Dense phytoplankton blooms of the thecate dinoflagellate Prorocentrum micans Ehrenberg causing brown discoloration of the water occurred off Westport in March 1976 and March 1978. No toxic effects are known to have resulted from these blooms.