Phytoplankton of coastal waters in Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, 2002-2003

This dataset contains abundance data of phytoplankton species (diatoms, dinoflagellates and coccolithophores) collected in four eutrophic gulfs of the Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean Sea, during the years 2002–2003 and data on environmental parameters Sampling Methods The samples were collected from 1 m depth with a Hydro-bios sampler equipped with an inverted thermometer. For species identification and enumeration samples were fixed with Lugol’s solution (without acetic acid), settled in 50-ml sedimentation chambers. Samples for nutrient analysis were filtered (0.2 mm Millipore filter), dispensed into 100 mL polyethelene bottles and kept continuously under deep freeze (-20oC) until their analysis in the laboratory. Samples (0.5–1 L) for chlorophyll a analysis were collected from each sampling station, filtered immediately through Whatman GF/F filters and kept deep frozen till the day of analysis in the laboratory by a TURNER AU-10 fluorometer.

Study Extent : Phytoplankton was studied in four gulfs of Aegean sea [Saronikos Gulf, Evoikos Gulf, Pagassitikos Gulf and Thermaikos Gulf] during the years 2002-2003. Quality Control : Stations were plotted on Google earth and errors were corrected. Taxonomic quality control was done using the online taxon match tool of WoRMS.

STRATEGY from the EU under contract EVK3-CT-2001-0004609;2001-09/2004