2. Types of distribution Regional distribution Vertical distribution (depth)

3. Factors influencing distribution off the coast of California Upwelling Continental shelf processes Davidson current California current El Nino events Season and photoperiod

4. Trends in distribution in California Can be separated into inshore and offshore groups (Venrick, 1998) Large annual variation in productivity Higher productivity is associated with more intense upwelling Latitudinal variability in groups present

6. Commonly occurring genera distance from shore(Venrick, 1998) Inshore : Chaetoceros, Skeletonema, Pseudo-nitzschia, Emiliania Offshore: Emiliania, Gephyrocapsa, Nitzschia, Fragilariopsis

7. Vertical distribution Influenced by thermocline, light penetration and mixing

8. (Klausmeier and Lichtman, 2001)

9. Literature Cited Klausmeier CA, Lichtman E. (2001) Algal Games: The Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton in Poorly Mixed Water Columns Limnology and Oceanography. 46: 1998-2007 Venrick EL. (1998) Spring in the California Current: the distribution of phytoplankton species. Ecol Prog Ser. 167: 73-88, 1998 Reid FMH, Stewart E, Eppley RW, Goldman D. (1978) Distribution of Phytoplankton Species in Chlorophyll Maximum Layers Off Southern California. Limnology and Oceanography. 23: 219-226 Sosik HM, Mitchell BG. (1995). Light absorption by phytoplankton, photosynthetic pigments and detritus in the California Current System. Marine Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0218, U.S.A.