Primary productivity of the Andaman Sea

Abstract

The average surface and column primary productivity, chl <i>a</i> 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 <i>a</i> alone was greater in Feb. 1979 than in Jan. 1980. <i>Navicula</i> spp, <i>Peridinium</i> spp, <i>Trichodesmium thiebautii</i> and flagellates were abundant. Turnover rates of phytoplankton were estimated. Variationsin the phytoplankton carbon, zooplankton carbon and detrital carbon were discussed.