Phytoplankton community structure on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

The Outer Banks of North Carolina consists of a series of barrier islands subject to highly variable weather and tidal conditions. The climate provides for many different types of biomes on the Outer Banks that are essential to the area´s biodiversity (Malin 2000). The surrounding aquatic biome is the most utilized of these areas; it is both a draw for tourism and commercial fisheries. Phytoplankton serves as the base of the aquatic food chain playing a pivotal role in supporting the aquatic biome and associated industries (NCDENR 2004). The phytoplankton community structure can be influenced by human activity and climatic conditions. Some harmful species can pose a threat to marine life, commercial fishing, and ultimately to human health (Lansberg 2005). Understanding the relationship between phytoplankton communities and their surrounding influences is vital to assessing the health of the aquatic ecosystems.