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Rhizosolenia mats 1
Author(s) -
Harbison G. Richard,
Madin Laurence P.,
Swanberg Neil R.,
Biggs Douglas C.,
Hulburt Edward M.,
McAlister Vicki L.,
McCarthy James J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1977.22.4.0739
Subject(s) - environmental science , oceanography , geology
Two species of diatoms, Rhizoso lenia castracanei and Rhizosolenia shrubsolei , coexist by living together in relatively large mats (4 cm diam). The relative proportion of the two species is variable. In the North Atlantic Ocean, Rhizosolenia mats appear to be limited in distribution to the central and southern Sargasso Sea. Mats are probably of little significance in the overall primary productivity of the ocean. Since euphausiids and copepods have been observed clinging to the mats and eating them, the mats may be of ecological significance to certain species of zooplankton.