This dissertation was written as part of the MSc in Bioeconomy: Biotechnology and Law at the International Hellenic University. The aim of the study was to investigate the planktonic community in Thessaloniki Bay, which is a eutrophic coastal area located in the inner part of Thermaikos gulf. The phytoplankton composition, abundance and biomass were measured from June to September of the year 2020. Twelve (12) samples were collected from one sampling site on a weekly basis. Totally, 59 taxa were identified throughout the study, comprised of 27 diatoms, 21 dinoflagellates, 5 Ochrophyta, 2 Haptophyta and one taxon from Acantharea, Cercozoa, Ciliophora and Cyanobacteria respectively. Diatoms were identified as the taxonomic group that dominated the phytoplankton community through the study. Chaetoceros sp., Rhizosolenia sp. and Leptocylindrus danicus were the diatoms with the highest abundance and biomass values, while the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum micans appeared in high densities during July exceeding >1000 cells mL-1. The dinoflagellates Protoperidinium sp., Gyrodinium sp. and Gymnodinium sp. were also detected frequently. During July a Noctiluca scintillans bloom was detected when the heterotrophic dinoflagellate increased its biomass reaching 508.68 mg L-1. The phytoplankton community followed the common pattern of the predominance of diatoms over dinoflagellates and the seasonal outbreaks of dinoflagellates during spring and summer. From all the potentially harmful microalgae recognized during the study, only the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia was observed in high abundancies.
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