Primary productivity of the Andaman Sea

Abstract

The average surface and column primary productivity, chl a and particulate organic carbon, estimated at 24 stations during Feb. 1979, were respectively 5.3 mg C/m3/d and 273 mg C/m2 /d; 0.03 mg/m3 and 3.64 mg/m2; and 132mg/m3 and 4.59 g/m2. The corresponding values during Jan. 1980 were 12.4 mgC/m3/d and 431mgC/m2/d;0.02mg/m3 and 2.33mg/m2; and 306 mg/m3 and 16.4g/m2. Chlorophyll a alone was greater in Feb. 1979 than in Jan. 1980. Navicula spp, Peridinium spp, Trichodesmium thiebautii and flagellates were abundant. Turnover rates of phytoplankton were estimated. Variationsin the phytoplankton carbon, zooplankton carbon and detrital carbon were discussed