Phytoplankon of Khatanga bay, shelf and continental slope of the Western Laptev sea

Abstract

The research was done at transect (11 stations) from inner part of the Khatanga Bay in the south to continental slope area in the north from 17 to 20 September 2017. Four biotops with different parameters of pelagic environment, composition, quantitative characteristics and vertical distribution of phytoplankton were allocated: inner part of the Khatanga Bay, estuarine frontal zone, western shelf of the Laptev Sea and continental slope area. Inner part of the Khatanga Bay and continental slope area were characterized by the highest values of phytoplankton numbers and biomass, which reached 1106 cell/l и 160 mg/m3, respectively. Formation of maximum at the depth of 45 meters was typical for phytoplankton vertical distribution in continental slope area. Algae biomass in the maximum reached 400 mg/m3 which was the highest value for the transect. Well pronounced latitudinal zoning in phytoplankton communities structure was revealed in the western part of the Laptev Sea which was similar to that in another areas the Arctic seas under strong impact of Siberian rivers discharge.