Phytoplankton samples were collected on June 24, 2026 at Bullock Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection.
It was sunny and clear on this day. The water temperature was 21.3 °C, the salinity was 27.2 PSU, and the chlorophyll a was 0.84 ug/L.
The qualitative tow net sample had a short filtration time and was cloudy and medium brown in coloration.
The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 1,316,000 cells/L. The microflagellates were found at 1,106,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genera were Cerataulina spp. at 110,000 cells/L, Skeletonema spp. at 27,000 cells/L, and Heterocapsa spp. at 23,000 cells/L.
200x phase contrast image of Chaetoceros lorenzianus
Chaetoceros lorenzianus is a species of centric diatom with a large diameter of 7 – 85 μm. Individual cells are usually joined in straight, stiff chains, connected by the touching of cell corners and fused adjacent spines. They have a wide distribution throughout the world and are commonly found throughout spring and summer in warm, shallow, marine waters.