The secchi data from the first quarter of the year from 2008 to 2012
reveals that thewater at Stonehaven wasmore turbid than at Loch Ewe
(Fig. 6). Themedian secchi depth for Stonehaven during this periodwas
5.8 m whilst at Loch Ewe it was nearly 1 m greater at 6.7 m. This suggests
that the phytoplankton community at Loch Ewe had a potential
greater exposure to light than the phytoplankton community at Stonehaven
during the period prior to the spring bloom