The genus Phaeocystis is distributed globally and has considerable ecological, biogeochemical, and societal impacts. Understanding its distribution, growth and ecological impacts has been limited by lack of extensive observations on appropriate scales. In 2018, we investigated the biological dynamics of the New England continental shelf and encountered a substantial bloom of Phaeocystis pouchetii. Based on satellite imagery during January through April, the bloom extended over broad expanses of the shelf; furthermore, our observations demonstrated that it reached high biomass levels, with maximum chlorophyll concentrations exceeding 16 µg L⁻¹ and particulate organic carbon levels > 95 µmol L⁻¹. Initially, the bloom was largely confined to waters with temperatures <6°C, which in turn were mostly restricted to shallow areas near the coast. As the bloom progressed, it appeared to sink into the bottom boundary layer; however, enough light and nutrients were available for growth. The bloom was highly productive (net community production integrated through the mixed layer from stations within the bloom averaged 1.16 g C m⁻² d⁻¹) and reduced nutrient concentrations considerably. Long‐term coastal observations suggest that Phaeocystis blooms occur sporadically in spring on Nantucket Shoals and presumably expand onto the continental shelf. Based on the distribution of Phaeocystis during our study, we suggest that it can have a significant impact on the overall productivity and ecology of the New England shelf during the winter/spring transition.

中文翻译：

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新英格兰大陆架上的Phaeocystis pouchetii的区域早春开花

囊藻属（Phaeocystis）分布于全球，并具有相当大的生态，生物地球化学和社会影响。由于缺乏适当规模的广泛观察，限制了人们对其分布，生长和生态影响的理解。在2018年，我们调查了新英格兰大陆架的生物动力学，并发现了Phaeocystis pouchetii的大量开花。根据1月至4月的卫星图像，大花遍及整个架子。此外，我们的观察表明，它达到了很高的生物量水平，最大叶绿素浓度超过16 µg L ^-1，颗粒有机碳含量> 95 µmol L ^-1。最初，水华主要限于温度<6°C的水域，而水域又主要局限于海岸附近的浅水区。随着开花的进行，它似乎沉入了底部边界层。但是，有足够的光和养分可供生长。水华高产（水华内各站通过混合层整合的净群落产量平均为1.16 g C m ^-2  d ^-1），并显着降低了养分含量。长期的沿海观察表明，Phaeocystis花朵在春季偶尔出现在楠塔基特浅滩，并可能扩展到大陆架。根据囊肿的分布 在我们的研究中，我们建议在冬季/春季过渡期，它可能会对新英格兰大陆架的整体生产力和生态产生重大影响。