Phytoplankton, particle and hydrographical data from 2 consecutive springs (1985,1986) collected from many areas of the Baltlc Sea show that during the vernal light-limited phase most abundant spnng bloom species can be divided into 3 successive groups, which grow rapidly under different environmental conditions (1) monocellular autotrophic nanoflagellates, (2) small-cell centrlc dlatoms (3) other diatoms and dinoflagellates Due to large-scale difterences in the structure of the upper water column, the spring bloom temporal species success~on may b e converted to a basin-wide spatial distribution of subsequent phases from the less stratified central part of the Baltlc Sea to the stratified nearshore reglons, the latter always belng in a comparat~vely advanced stage Speclal attention should be pald to the growth phase of small autotrophic flagellates, which may flll a n important ecological 'nlche by affecting the total amount of inorganic nutrients incorporated Into organic matter dunng the vernal bloom
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