DISCUSSION 



Our study indicates that the Davids Island region of LIS has a 

 flora and fauna typical of a temperate estuary with the hydrographic 

 characteristics previously described. Densities of the large phyto- 

 plankton are similar to those reported by Riley and Conover (1967) for 

 western LIS and by S. M. Conover (1956) for central LIS, except for 

 the two instances in our survey (Station 6 on July 20 and August 2) 

 where the dinof lagellates Massartia rotundata and Prorocentrum micans 

 were present in extremely high numbers. Both these species have been 

 reported by Sandy Hook scientists as major components of red tide blooms 

 (Jay O'Reilly, Sandy Hook Laboratory for Environmental Relations of 

 Fishes, pers. comm. , 15 November 1971). 



Riley (1952) reports lower cell densities for Block Island Sound 

 (hereafter BIS) . He considers LIS populations an order of magnitude 

 greater than the less nutrient-rich outer coastal waters, with BIS 

 intermediate between the two. Neither of these investigators mention 

 Nannochloris atomus, which we found in such great abundance. However, 

 Hulburt (1963) recognized the occasional dominance of N. atomis in LIS 

 flora. If desired, more data on the productivity of the area can be 

 furnished after results of our chlorophyll-a analyses become available. 



The copepod community is Ac artia - dominated with densities comparable 

 to earlier values found for LIS (Deevey, 1956) and similar estuaries 

 (Deevey, 1952, BIS; Heinle, 1956, Patuxent River estuary; Herman, et al.. 



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