Phytoplankton in marine surface microlayers

Abstract

Surface microlayer phytoplankton populations were monitored to assess natural temporal and spatial variability. Microlayer samples (collected using glass plates) were compared with reference bulkwater samples over hourly, diel, and seasonal time periods on spatial scales of ~0.5 to 20 km. Microlayers were consistently depleted in chlorophyll a relative to bulkwaters in diurnal samples. Depletions had no seasonal patterns and were not influenced by dissolved nutrients or organic materials or by varying wave states. A diel pattern, with nocturnal enrichments, indicated photoinhibition of microlayer microbiota. Exceptions to these patterns occurred in naturally slicked surfaces which generally had large chlorophyll a enrichments. Disparate descriptions of microlayer phytoplankton populations in previous work probably resulted from (1) use of different sampling methods, (2) geographic variations in bulkwater phytoplankton biomass, (3) low numbers of samples, and (4) uncertain identification or definition of slick conditions.