METHODS



       Phytoplankton were collected, preserved, concentrated, and, if possible,
 counted on shipboard in order to retain fragile species, using a preservation a
nd epifluorescence enumeration procedure adapted from Murphy and Haugen (1985) a
nd Shapiro et al. (1989).  Samples were collected with water bottles or buckets
(surface), preserved immediately with 0.5 % glutaraldehyde (final concentration)
, and placed in a refrigerator for at least 1 hr and no more than 24.  An aliquo
t of this samples was filtered first through a 3 5m polycarbonate filter and col
lected on a 0.2 5m polycarbonate filter.  This latter filter was mounted with im
mersion oil on a slide, refrigerated, and always counted within 24 hr.  Another
aliquot was stained with 0.03 % proflavine hemisulfate (final concentration) and
 filtered sequentially through 8 and 3 5m polycarbonate filters.  Both filters w
ere mounted on slides with immersion oil.  The 3 5m slides were refrigerated and
 counted within 48 hr; the 8 5m slides were frozen immediately and counted later
 back in the lab.



       Phytoplankton were counted on an Olympus epifluorescence microscope with
 green and blue excitation.  Phytoplankton were counted to the most specific tax
on possible.  In the 0.2 and 3 5m fractions, these refer only to very broad cate
gories.  In the 8 5m fraction more specific identification was possible.  In cas
es where an identification could not be made, but an organism was distinct and n
umerous, a name was assigned, which described its appearance.  Photographs and d
escriptions are on file at LUMCON and we are continuing to try to identify these
 organisms.



EXPLANATION OF PHYTOPLANKTON SPECIES DATA



Name = most specific taxonomic classification possible.



Size = One of three size fractions on which counts were made

       0.2 -3 5m

       3 - 8 5m

       > 8 5m



Length = in the > 8 5m fraction, counts are usually made at least at two magnif
ications.  To avoid counting the same organism twice, a length, usually 205m, is
 designated to separate what will be counted at each magnification.  If the orga
nism is greater than that length in one dimension, it is counted at the lower ma
gnification.  In a few cases counts were not made at two magnifications or the c
ounts were not clearly separated by a specific size.  In those cases the Length
category is left blank and the count given is for all organisms > 8 5m.



a_h = distinguishes if the organisms is autotrophic or heterotrophic

       a = autotrophic

       h = heterotrophic

       q = unknown



type = designates the general group of organisms to which the particular organi
sm belongs

       D = diatom              CH = chlorophyte

       F = dinoflagellate      P = phytoflagellate

       CR = cryptomonad        B = heterotrophic bacteria (such as Beggiatoa)

       CI = ciliate            O = other

       C = cyanobacteria       Q = unknown







References



Murphy, L.S., and E.M. Haugen.  1985.  The distribution and abundance of photor
ophic ultraplankton in the North Atlantic.  Limnol. Oceanogr. 30: 47-58.



Shapiro, L.P.,  E.M. Haugen, and E.J. Carpenter.  1989.  Occurrence and abundan
ce of green-fluorescing dinoflagellates in surface waters of the Northwest Atlan
tic and Northeast Pacific Oceans.  J. Phycol. 25: 189-191.


