Four planktonic coastal ecosystems from the western Channel to the southern part of the North Sea have been compared. The characteristics of the south of the North Sea are a very high planktonic biomass with an annual maximum value of 45 mg C m-3 h-1 for primary production, a maximum of 11 mg m-3 for Chlorophyll a and 60 mg C m-3 for zooplanktonic biomass (expressed in term of carbon weight), linked with an oscillating ecosystem. In the western Channel primary production shows an annual maximum value of 8 mg C m-3 h-1, die chlorophyll a, a maximum of 2.5 mg m-3 and zooplanktonic carbon weight of 14 mg C m-3 linked to a greater inertia in the system. Turnover is faster in the north. Trophic efficiency ratios have been calculated and linked to hydrodynamic conditions and currents. The impacts of a thermal perturbation from a nuclear power plant effluent (DT 11-degrees - 15-degrees-C) applied to ecosystems are compared.