Search

To assess the anthropogenic effect on biodiversity, it is essential to understand the global diversity distribution of the major groups at the base of the food chain, ideally before global warming initiation (1850 Common Era CE). Since organisms in the plankton are highly interconnected and carbonate synthesizing species have a good preservation state in the Atlantic Ocean, the diversity distribution pattern of planktonic foraminifera from 1741 core-top surface sediment samples (expanded ForCenS database) provides a case study to comprehend centennial to decadal time-averaged diversity patterns at pre-1970 CE times, the tempo of the substantial increase in tropospheric warming. In this work, it is hypothesized and tested for the first time, that the large-scale diversity patterns of foraminifera communities are determined by sea surface temperature (SST, representing energy), Chl-a (a surrogate for photosynthetic biomass), and ocean kinetic energy (as EKE). Alpha diversity was estimated using species richness (S), Shannon Wiener index (H), and Simpson evenness (E), and mapped using geostatistical approaches. The three indices are significantly related to SST, Chl-a, and EKE (71-88% of the deviance in the generalized additive mixed model, including a spatial component). Beta diversity was studied through species turnover using gradient forest analysis (59% of the variation). The primary community thresholds of foraminifera species turnover were associated with 5-10 °C and 22-28 °C SST, 0.05-0.15 mg m-3 Chl-a, and 1.2-2.0 cm2 s-2 log10 EKE energy, respectively. Six of the most important foraminifera species identified for the environmental thresholds of beta diversity are also fundamental in transfer functions, further reinforcing the approaches used. The geographic location of the transition between the four main biogeographic zones was redefined based on the results of beta diversity analysis and incorporating the new datasets, identifying the major marine latitudin

The taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton community is influenced by multiple factors, mostly integrated into functional aspects and the metabolism of the ecosystem. To evaluate the variation in the structure of the phytoplankton in relation to the limnological conditions and metabolic processes described through COD and Chl-a, a study was carried out in 12 lakes of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera grouped in different altitudinal range (high tropical mountain, Andean and lowlands). Measurements of physical and chemical variables were made, including descriptors of lake metabolism (dissolved organic carbon and chlorophyll-a), together with the characterization of the taxonomic structure of phytoplankton. According to the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the lakes were ordered based on the combination of geological, altitudinal and geomorphological factors associated with the altitudinal range and the degree of mineralization. According to the Hill Numbers, the expression of the diversity of the phytoplankton community was organized independently of the altitudinal factor; and according to the Sorensen index, the Andean and lowland lakes presented greater similarity in the taxonomic composition of their communities. Regarding the metabolic condition of the lakes and its association with the phytoplankton structure, four combinations were obtained: 1). The predominance of mixed systems with a low or intermediate concentration of DOC and Chl-a, associated with the Chlorophyceae and Zignematophyceae classes; 2). Relevance of the heterotrophic pathway, with a predominance of the Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyceae classes; 3). Mixed systems with a high concentrations of DOC and Chl-a, associated with the Cyanophyceae and Euglenophyceae classes; 4). Relevance of the autotrophic pathway, related to the Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae classes, La estructura taxonómica de la comunidad fitoplanctónica se encuentra influenciada por múltiples factores, en su mayoría integrados en aspectos funcionales y del metabolismo del ecosistema. Con el objetivo de evaluar la variación en la estructura del fitoplancton en lagos andinos sobre un amplio espectro de condiciones, se realizó un estudio en 12 lagos de la Cordillera Oriental colombiana agrupados en diferentes rangos altitudinales (alta montaña tropical, andino y tierras bajas). Bajo el criterio de sustitución de espacio por tiempo, se hicieron mediciones de variables físicas y químicas, entre ellas, descriptores del metabolismo de los lagos (carbono orgánico disuelto y clorofila-a), junto a la caracterización de la estructura taxonómica del fitoplancton. Según el Análisis de Correspondencia Canónica (ACC), los lagos se ordenaron en función de la combinación de factores climáticos, tróficos e hidrogeoquímicos asociados al rango altitudinal y el grado de mineralización. De acuerdo con el índice de Margalef el rango de tierras bajas evidenció la mayor riqueza de taxones; y según el índice de Sorensen, los lagos andinos y de tierras bajas presentaron mayor similitud en la composición taxonómica de sus comunidades. En cuanto a la condición metabólica de los lagos y su asociación con la estructura de fitoplancton, se obtuvieron cuatro combinaciones que reflejan las variantes metabólicas: 1). Predominio de sistemas mixtos con baja o intermedia concentración de COD y Chl-a, asociados con las clases Chlorophyceae y Zignematophyceae; 2). Relevancia de la vía heterotrófica, con predominio de las clases Bacillariophyceae y Chlorophyceae; 3). Sistema mixto con alta concentración de COD y Chl-a, asociado con las clases Cyanophyceae y Euglenophyceae; 4). Relevancia de la vía autotrófica, relacionado con las clases Cyanophyceae y Chlorophyceae.

This paper presents a first attempt to characterize coccolithophore assemblages occurring in the context of an active submarine canyon. Coccolithophores from the upper-middle sections of the Nazaré Canyon (central Portuguese margin) - one of the largest canyons of the European continental margin - were investigated during a late winter period (9-12 March 2010). Species distributions were analyzed in a multiparameter environmental context (temperature, salinity, turbidity, Chl-a and nutrient concentrations). Monthly averaged surface water Chl-a concentrations between 2006 and 2011 assessed from satellite data are also presented, as a framework for interpreting spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton in the Nazaré Canyon. The Nazaré Canyon was observed to act as a conduit for advection of relatively nutrient-poor oceanic waters of ENACWst origin into nearshore areas of the continental shelf (less than 10. km off the coast), whilst at the surface a nutrient-rich buoyant plume resulting from intensive coastal runoff prior and during the beginning of the cruise was spreading in oceanward direction. Two distinct coccolithophore assemblages appear representative for the coast to open-ocean gradient: (1) Emiliania huxleyi together with Gephyrocapsa ericsonii and Coronosphaera mediterranea dominated the more productive assemblage present within coastal-neritic surface waters; and (2) Syracosphaera spp. and Ophiaster spp. displayed a higher affinity with open-ocean conditions, and also generally a broader vertical distribution. Local >hotspots> of coccolithophore and phytoplankton biomass potentially associated with perturbations of surface water circulation by the canyon are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Successful management of coastal environments requires reliable monitoring methods and indicators. Secchi depth and chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) are used as indicators for the assessment of eutrophication, both within the European Commission’s Water Framework and Marine Strategy Directives and the Helsinki commission. Chl-a is a used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass and Secchi depth is used as a measure of changes in Chl-a. However, Secchi depth is more closely correlated with the light climate, affecting for example benthic vegetation. The public strongly link Secchi depth to the perceived water quality. Due to its simple measurement method Secchi depth is included in many monitoring programmes, often with the longest available time-series. In optically complex waters, Secchi depth is influenced by other factors than Chl-a, such as coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). In this study we evaluate how much Chl-a, CDOM and inorganic SPM each contribute to the variations in Secchi depth. We collected in situ data from different Swedish coastal gradients in three regions, Bothnian Sea, Baltic proper and Skagerrak during 2010-2014. Two linear multiple regression models for each region, with Chl-a, CDOM and inorganic SPM as predictors, explained the Secchi depth well (R2adj=0.54/0.8 for the Bothnian Sea, R2adj=0.81/0.81 for the Baltic proper and R2adj=0.53/0.64 for the Skagerrak). The slope for inorganic SPM was not significant in all models, but still included in the models, as significant correlations were found, both with Secchi depth and between parameters. The follow-up analysis of the multiple regressions by commonality analyses showed differences between the regions in the unique and common effects of the variables to the variance of the R2adj for Secchi depth. In the Bothnian Sea the unique effects for Chl-a were relatively low, 6% and 20%. The highest unique effect were from CDOM (~46% in summer and 20% in spri