Editorial

Editorial of Scientia Marina 75(2) 2011.--1 pageSatellite imagery has made us familiar with the surface distribution of chlorophyll in the world oceans. Large marine areas, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, appear as phytoplankton-poor. However, in oligotrophic situations, a substantial part of the phytoplankton biomass may be concentrated in a deep maximum, below the reach of the ocean colour remote sensors. Knowledge of the spatio temporal variability of the distribution of phytoplankton in the water column and of the contribution of different size fractions to biomass and primary production is crucial in order to understand the interplay between phytoplankton community structure and carbon fluxes in the pelagic ecosystem. Obtaining information on these topics is still dependent on in situ observations, but large-scale studies in open ocean regions are scarce [...]Peer reviewe