We have recently encountered many stations with lower surface fluorescence and fewer diatom chains.

The microplankton community at these stations is diverse and includes dinoflagellates like Ceratium (A) and Dinophysis (D), large mixotrophic ciliates (C, maybe Laboea?), and some diatom chains (B). This contrasts with the earlier communities that were dominated by chain diatoms like Chaetoceros, Pseudonitzschia, and Rhizosolenia.

Dinoflagellates prefer stratified water, and mixotrophic ciliates represent a community using recycled nutrients. Images from live samples run in FlowCAM. Report courtesy of Michael Sieracki, Bigelow Labs.