Ecological Study of Spring-Early Summer Phytoplankton Blooms in A Semi-Enclosed Estuary

A sampling station in the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria was operated for 51 days between 2 March and 12 June, 1991. the harbour had different wide physical and chemical variations. Six distinct phytoplankton blooms occurred during this period. It is concluded that the physicochemical conditions affected the phytoplankton community structure and species composition. A dense diatom bloom could be maintained in a very weak and/or stabilized water column. A diatom bloom does not necessarily accompany an enhanced nutrient period. the depletion of nutrients and establishment of thermal stratification probably created favourable conditions for dinoflagellate and flagellate species to achieve blooms. the species composition could be shifted over the short term and a dense phytoplankton bloom could possibly dissipate in a few days.