A Study of the Spring Diatom Increase in Loch Striven

Abstract

The spring diatom increase in the open sea and probably also in inshore waters is one of the most important annual biological events and information regarding it or its causes is likely to be of value. In an inshore area changes are not only more pronounced, but also take place more rapidly than in the open sea and, for this reason among others, the increase was studied in Loch Striven, a well-sheltered loch in the Clyde Sea Area. A general description of the weekly changes occurring in this loch has already been made (Marshall and. Orr, 1927). The changes during the spring, however, are so rapid that an examination at even closer intervals during this period was thought advisable. Such an examination was made in 1927 and 1928, the interval between successive visits being generally two days. The methods used were the same as those described in the above-mentioned paper.