Size fractionated chlorophyll a (Chl a) samples were collected
by filtering triplicate samples onto 0.2, 2 and 20 mm polycarbonate
filters. These filters were stored frozen until subsequent analysis
via standard fluorometeric methods (Welschmeyer, 1994). Whole
seawater was preserved in 5% Lugols iodine solution for subsequent
enumeration of plankton under an inverted microscope.
Plankton were identified to the most specific taxonomic level
possible, and were generally grouped as diatoms, dinoflagellates,
ciliates, and autotrophic nano-flagellates. A minimum of 200
organisms or 100 grids were counted per sample (Omori and Ikeda,
1984).