Microbial diversity and abundance in the ocean around Iceland

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.

A pioneering study on the diversity of small (nano- and pico- size) marine microorganisms in the waters around Iceland was initiated by some water samplings in 2011. Collection of water samples, mostly during the second half of May, has been continued annually since that, as well as some analysis of the samples. As expected, it is apparent from the preliminary result that micro organisms are most abundant in coastal regions, and the microbial numbers are high in the surface layer in comparison to deeper water. Furthermore, there is a positive trend between water temperature and abundance of micro organisms. The aim of this study is to study correlations between abundance and diversity of the small micro organisms and some commonly recorded environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, mixed layer depth, concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a, as well as index on zooplankton abundance). Special emphasis is put on registrations of the possible occurrence of known micro organisms that may be pathogenic to fish or other marine animals.