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In contrast to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Indian Ocean has lacked in-situ observations of wind profiles over open sea areas for decades. In 2021, a shipborne coherent Doppler lidar (CDL) was used to observe in-situ wind profiles in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean. This equipment successfully captured low-level jets (LLJs) in the region, and their characteristics were thoroughly analyzed. Results reveal that the observed wind speed of LLJs in the eastern Indian Ocean ranges from 6 ms−1 to 10 ms−1 during the boreal winter and spring seasons, showing a height range of 0.6 to 1 km and two peak times at 0800 and 2000 UTC. This wind shear is weaker than that in land or offshore areas, ranging from 0s−1 to 0.006s−1. Moreover, the accuracy of the CDL data is compared to that of ERA5 data in the study area. The results indicate that the zonal wind from ERA5 data significantly deviated from the CDL measurement data, and the overall ERA5 data are substantially weaker than the in-situ observations. Notably, ERA5 underestimates northwestward LLJs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seamounts are widespread underwater topographic features in the ocean that exert an influential role in shaping the microbial biogeographic distribution. Nevertheless, research on the differences in microbial biogeographic distribution between seamount and non-seamount upper water column is still lacking, particularly in the Indian Ocean where studies are limited. In the present study, a total of 45 seawater samples were collected from the water column (5--200 m) of seamounts (HS) and non-seamounts (E87 transect) regions in the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) for the analysis of microbial biogeographic patterns and community assembly processes. The results indicated that bacterial community diversity did not differ significantly between the HS and E87 transect regions; however, the community composition was significantly different. Additionally, bacterial community diversity, composition, as well as structure were more affected by depth than by region. Community diversity tended to increase with depth in E87 transect region, while it tended to decrease in HS region. A distance decay analysis also demonstrated that bacterial communities were more influenced by environmental and depth distances than geographic distances. In the assembly of bacterial communities on HS and E87 transect regions, as well as at different depths, stochastic processes, particularly dispersal limitation, were found to be predominant. These findings enhance our comprehension of bacterial community characteristics in the upper seawater of seamounts and non-seamounts regions in the EIO and offer insights into the assembly processes shaping microbial communities at varying depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is significantly impacted by torrential rainfall induced by tropical cyclone (TC) activity particularly in South China (SC) and East China (EC). This study delineates the distinct TC activities associated with these regions over the western North Pacific (WNP). Our analysis reveals that in SC, positive TC rainfall is largely attributed to a significant increase in TC genesis within the South China Sea (SCS), along with predominantly westward TC tracks. In EC, rainfall patterns are influenced by a northward extension of both TC genesis and tracks, notably affecting areas such as the Yangtze River delta and Shandong Province. This study further explores the modulation effects of preceding sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) and the eastern Pacific on summer TC rainfall in SC and EC. We find that autumn warming in the EIO enhances subsequent summer TC rainfall in SC by modulating cyclonic anomalies along with favorable conditions for TC genesis and convection over the SC coast, while simultaneously diminishing convections over EC. Meanwhile, La Niña events lead to increased TC rainfall in EC during the subsequent summer by modifying the large-scale background circulation. This modification promotes TC formation at higher latitudes and facilitates more TCs moving northwestward directly toward EC. This research provides valuable insights into the distinct underlying mechanisms driving regional TC rainfall variation, highlighting the importance of region-specific analyses in understanding and forecasting TC impacts in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) is an ideal region to explore the variability and controlling mechanisms of the seawater carbonate system and their potential influence on global climate change due to the distinctive environmental features, while studies in the EIO is far from sufficient. The spatiotemporal distributions of pH, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), alkalinity (Alk), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) were investigated in the EIO during autumn 2020 and spring 2021. The respective quantitative contributions of different controlling processes to DIC were further delineated. Significant seasonal variations were observed in the study area. Overall, the surface pH was lower and DIC, Alk, and pCO2 were higher during spring 2021 than during autumn 2020. The pH generally decreased from east to west during autumn 2020, whereas it decreased from north to south during spring 2021. The low values of DIC and Alk that were detected in the Bay of Bengal in these two seasons were mainly attributed to the influence of river inputs. Coastal upwelling during monsoon periods led to higher pCO2 and DIC values near Sumatra and Sri Lanka during spring 2021. The relationships of carbonate system parameters with different types of nutrients and different sized chlorophyll-a in the two seasons indicated the shifts of nutrients utilized by the phytoplankton, and phytoplankton species dominated the carbonate system variabilities. In vertical profiles, carbonate system parameters showed strong correlations with other physical and biogeochemical parameters, and these correlations were more robust during spring 2021 than during autumn 2020. The average sea-air flux of CO2 was 10.00 mmolm-2 d-1 during autumn 2020 andwas 16.00 mmolm-2 d-1 during spring 2021, which revealed that the EIO served as a CO2 source during the study period. In addition, the separation of different controlling processes of DIC indicated stronger mixing processes, less CaCO3 precipitation, more intensive sea-air exchange, and weaker photosynthesis during spring 2021 than during autumn 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) plays an important role in various aspects of oceanography. MLD has a characteristic parameter value that is uniform with depth. MLD has an important role for local, regional, and global phenomena. Indonesia, which is surrounded by the East Indian Ocean, will be directly influenced by the dynamics of MLD. This study aimed to analyze seasonal variability and MLD between years. Mixed layer depth data from the ARMOR3D Dataset Copernicus-Marine Environment Monitoring Service was used for MLD analysis with a threshold of 0.2°C for temperature. Wavelet analysis showed that MLD variability in the eastern Indian Ocean spans from intra-seasonal to interannual scales. Time series analysis showed a complex relationship between MLD and SST in the annual and interannual periods which indicates a different process. The MLD monthly climatology at point 90E, 0 showed the depth of mixed layers is deeper during the east monsoon (JJA-SON) ranging from 50-65 m compared to the west monsoon (DJF-MAM) which has a range of 20-40 m. Spatially the MLD in the south of the equator is deeper than in the north. Interannually, MLD is heavily influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole. MLD depth is deeper in nIOD with a maximum depth in the range of 100 m compared to pIOD. MLD with maximum depth in the strong nIOD phase is around the equator and the pIOD phase is south of the equator. The study also showed that inter-annual variability in regions around the mainland showed a stronger response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) plays an important role in various aspects of oceanography. MLD has a characteristic parameter value that is uniform with depth. MLD has an important role for local, regional, and global phenomena. Indonesia, which is surrounded by the East Indian Ocean, will be directly influenced by the dynamics of MLD. This study aimed to analyze seasonal variability and MLD between years. Mixed layer depth data from the ARMOR3D Dataset Copernicus-Marine Environment Monitoring Service was used for MLD analysis with a threshold of 0.2oC for temperature. Wavelet analysis showed that MLD variability in the eastern Indian Ocean spans from intra-seasonal to interannual scales. Time series analysis showed a complex relationship between MLD and SST in the annual and interannual periods which indicates a different process. The MLD monthly climatology at point 90E, 0 showed the depth of mixed layers is deeper during the east monsoon (JJA-SON) ranging from 50-65 m compared to the west monsoon (DJF-MAM) which has a range of 20-40 m. Spatially the MLD in the south of the equator is deeper than in the north. Interannually, MLD is heavily influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole. MLD depth is deeper in nIOD with a maximum depth in the range of 100 m compared to pIOD. MLD with maximum depth in the strong nIOD phase is around the equator and the pIOD phase is south of the equator. The study also showed that inter-annual variability in regions around the mainland showed a stronger response. Highlight Researh • ARMOR3D data has fairly good accuracy as evidenced by data validation • In general, EIO is influenced by intra-seasonal, seasonal and inter-annual variability • The shallowing and deepening of the MLD are strongly correlated with the wind speed associated with the annual cycle • IOD has a strong role in MLD which looks significantly different, especially when nIOD and pIOD

Microzooplankton (MZP) are an important part of the microbial food web and play a pivotal role in connecting the classic food chain with the microbial loop in the marine ecosystem. They may play a more important role than mesozooplankton in the lower latitudes and oligotrophic oceans. In this article, we studied the species composition, dominant species, abundance, and carbon biomass of MZP, including the relationship between biological variables and environmental factors in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean during the spring intermonsoon. We found that the MZP community in this ocean showed a high species diversity, with a total of 340 species. Among these, the heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HDS) (205 species) and ciliates (CTS) (126 species) were found to occupy the most significant advantageous position. In addition, CTS (45.3%) and HDS (39.7%) accounted for a larger proportion of the population abundance, while HDS (47.1%) and copepod nauplii (CNP) (46.4%) made a larger contribution to the carbon biomass. There are significant differences in the ability of different groups of MZP to assimilate organic carbon. In this sea area, MZP are affected by periodic currents, and temperature is the main factor affecting the distribution of the community. The MZP community is dominated by eurytopic species and CNP. CTS are more sensitive to environmental changes than HDS, among which Ascampbelliella armilla may be a better habitat indicator species. In low-latitude and oligotrophic ocean areas, phytoplankton with smaller cell diameters were found to occupy a higher proportion, while there was no significant correlation between the total concentration of integrated chlorophyll a and the biological variables of MZP. Therefore, we propose that the relationship between size-fractionated phytoplankton and MZP deserves further study. In addition, the estimation of the carbon biomass of MZP requires the establishment of more detailed experimental methods to reflect the real situation of organisms. This study provides more comprehensive data for understanding the diversity and community structure of MZP in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean, which is also of good value for studying the adaptation mechanism and ecological functions of MZP in low-latitude and oligotrophic ocean ecosystems.

As the only low‐latitude connection along the return branch of the Great Conveyor Belt, the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) plays an important role in the large‐scale ocean–atmosphere interaction in the tropical region. However, the heat transport processes of the ITF along the outflow pathway in the eastern Indian Ocean over the recent geologic period is still debated. In this study, by using Mg/Ca ratios of the surface‐dwelling and thermocline‐dwelling planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber and Pulleniatina obliquiloculata, we reconstruct sea surface temperature and thermocline water temperature (TWT), and thermocline structure at two sites in the main outflow path of the ITF in the eastern Indian Ocean for the last 160 Kyr, and compare these new data with those from two cores in the central Indo‐Pacific Warm Pool. Our results show that, on the orbital time scale, the thermocline structure changes above the equatorial 90°E Ridge mimic those of the eastern Timor Sea, indicating that the ITF vertical structure remained unchanged during its penetration into the Indian Ocean. The TWT in the equatorial western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean presents similar change trend, suggesting that the ITF is likely to be an important route for thermocline water transport into the Indian Ocean. However, the vertical structure of the ITF varied through time, reflecting the effects of sea level and orbitally‐driven monsoonal activity. This impacted heat transport processes, resulting in changes in the surface water temperature along the outflow pathway in the eastern Indian Ocean. Key Points: Sea surface and thermocline water temperatures and vertical structure of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) outflow for the last 160 Kyr were reconstructedVertical structure of the ITF remained unchanged during its penetration into the Indian OceanVariation of the ITF through time impacted the heat transport processes along the outflow pathway in the eastern Indian Ocean [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread distribution of Prochlorococcus can be attributed to the extensive genetic diversity that allows them to adapt to various oligotrophic environments. We investigated the adaptation of Prochlorococcus to nutrient environments in the surface eastern Indian Ocean (EIO, 16.5°N to 20°S, 88°E) in November 2018. The growth rate of the Prochlorococcus population and its response to macronutrient enrichments (NH4+andPO43− ${{\text{NH}}_{4}}^{+}\,\text{and}\,{{\text{PO}}_{4}}^{3-}$) and the abundance of functional gene modules related to nutrient utilization were examined by on‐deck incubation experiments and metagenomic analysis, respectively. Although the dissolved inorganic nitrogen was depleted (∼58 nM) and the Prochlorococcus populations were dominated by the high‐light‐adapted II ecotype, Prochlorococcus populations showed distinct physiological patterns, especially the response to macronutrient enrichments, indicating their adaptation to local nutrient environments. At the northernmost station in the Bay of Bengal, the significant increase in growth rate with macronutrient enrichments and the highest abundance of the phosphate starvation response two‐component regulatory system module indicated adaptation to phosphorus‐limited environments. In the southern EIO, the insignificant increase in growth rate with macronutrient enrichment and higher abundance of the iron complex transport system module suggested adaptation to iron‐limited environments. However, genomic characteristics are not always associated with physiological characteristics. The abundance of the nitrate/nitrite transport system module was higher in the southern EIO, where the growth of Prochlorococcus relied on regenerated nitrogen sources as revealed by incubation experiments. These results reflected the complexity of Prochlorococcus adaptation especially in chronically oligotrophic environments, which was better revealed by combining physiological and genomic analyses. Plain Language Summary: Prochlorococcus are the smallest but most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth. Their widespread distribution (40°N to 40°S) and dominance in global subtropical and tropical phytoplankton communities could be attributed to the extensive genetic diversity that allows them to adapt to various environments. Although the adaptation of Prochlorococcus to nutrient environments could be reflected by variation in the genome, this method sometimes masks the complexity of Prochlorococcus adaptation. In this study, we combined incubation experiments with metagenomic analysis to better understand Prochlorococcus adaptation in the eastern Indian Ocean, which is consistently nutrient‐depleted but has subtle variations in nutrient environments. The results showed that the Prochlorococcus population had three distinct physiological patterns in the study area. In particular, the distinct response to the additional nutrients in incubation experiments indicated their specific adaptations to local nutrient environments. Furthermore, by considering the physiological characteristics with the spatially varied abundance of functional genes related to nutrient acquisition, it was revealed that Prochlorococcus growth was limited by different nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus or iron) across the study area. Our results suggested the complexity of Prochlorococcus adaptation to oligotrophic environments, which can be elucidated by considering both physiological and genomic characteristics. Key Points: Prochlorococcus had varied physiological and genomic characteristics as adaptations to nutrient environments in the eastern Indian OceanProchlorococcus adapted to phosphorus‐ and iron‐limited environments in the Bay of Bengal and southern eastern Indian Ocean, respectivelyThe adaptation of Prochlorococcus could be complex and better revealed by conducting both the physiological and genomic analyses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Indian Ocean is a tectonically and geodynamically active region that has experienced deformations due to rifting, uplifting, and plume activity. The earlier Rayleigh wave studies in the East Indian Ocean were mainly focused on the structure of the Bay of Bengal, Ninety East Ridge, and Broken Ridge. The structure of other region of the East Indian Ocean is not much explored. In the present study, Rayleigh wave dispersion analysis is performed to observe the signatures of upper mantle deformation in terms of shear wave velocity of the East Indian Ocean using global search method. The fundamental mode Rayleigh wave group velocities are estimated between 15 and 100 s using the multiple filter technique. The group velocities of the raypaths that traverse the same region are clustered (E1–E8) to get an average dispersion curve. Using a genetic algorithm, each cluster's group velocities are inverted for shear velocity structure. The observed dispersion curve of E6, E7, and E8 indicates the lower group velocities between 35 and 100 s relative to E1, E2, E3, E4, and E5, with an average variation of about 0.07–0.18 km/s. The crustal thickness obtained in the study region is ~ 26 km and is due to the increased thickness of the lower crust (9.1–12.4 km) having Vs 3.95–4.04 km/s. The theoretical Vs have been calculated for serpentinite rock at uppermost lithospheric conditions and found to be similar to the Vs of the lower crust in the present study. Hence, it is assumed that unusual crustal thickness is due to the progressive development of the upper lithosphere formation (Ultramafic rock) into material (serpentinite rock) with crustal-like shear velocity or moderately lower than sub-Moho shears velocity. The undeformed lithosphere is evidenced by the high-velocity (Vs 4.62–4.77 km/s) layer beneath the Moho, whose thickness ranges from 41.3 to 51.6 km. The high-velocity lithosphere is followed by a low-velocity zone that extends up to 160 km; however, the variation in Vs (4.57–4.31 km/s) indicates that the low-velocity zone is deformed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Argo Abyssal Plain (AAP), south of Java and northwest of Australia in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, is an oligotrophic region (low in chlorophyll and nutrients), downstream of the Indonesian throughflow. The processes that supply nitrogen to the AAP and support ecosystem production are unknown. Here we quantified lateral advection of particulate organic matter (POM) and the role of this advected POM in supplying new nitrogen (i.e., allochthonous nitrogen supply) to the mixed layer of the AAP using 14 yr of remotely sensed data, combined with sampling undertaken on a research cruise in February 2022. Our results indicate that the average net primary productivity of phytoplankton in this offshore oligotrophic region is 98.5 Gg C d−1 and that lateral advection transports 1.21 Gg C d−1 of particulate organic carbon (POC) into the region. We find that lateral advection of POM within the mixed layer supplies an annual average of 12% (95% C.I. = 5.2%–49%) of allochthonous "new" nitrogen supporting phytoplankton productivity, if regenerated to nutrients through microbial processes. Accounting for lateral transport in the deep euphotic zone, lateral transport supplies an average of 32% (10%–>100%) of new nitrogen, although this calculation is less certain due to inability to constrain subsurface POM fields. Our data suggest that lateral advection is a quantitatively important but not dominant source of nitrogen supporting new production. Overall, approximately half of the lateral transport is driven by transient eddies (mostly during winter) highlighting the importance of mesoscale circulation. Plain Language Summary: In most ocean regions, phytoplankton (microscopic algae that form the base of the ecosystem) are nitrogen limited. Nitrogen can enter the ecosystem through upwelling of deep waters, nitrogen fixation, or through lateral transport of particulate or dissolved organic matter which can be recycled through microbial processes. The Argo Abyssal Plain, between Indonesia and Australia, is an interesting low‐nutrient study site because it is downstream of the only tropical connection between the Pacific and Indian Oceans and is also the only known spawning site for southern bluefin tuna. In this study, we combine shipboard sampling with satellite remote sensing to investigate primary production and lateral organic matter transport in the Abyssal Argo Plain. We show that lateral transport (i.e., horizontal currents that transport matter from coastal regions) is an important source, though likely not a dominant source of nitrogen, for this deepwater basin. We also show that approximately half of this lateral nitrogen supply is derived from transient eddies (i.e., rotating currents that are basically storms in the ocean that can persist for weeks or months). Substantial uncertainty remains and ascertaining how the region will respond to climatic forcing will likely require multidisciplinary programs combining shipboard sampling with synthetic modeling tools. Key Points: Particulate organic carbon concentrations and net primary productivity in the Argo Abyssal Plain peak during Austral winterLateral advection is quantitatively important, but not the dominant source of nitrogen supporting phytoplankton new productionRemote‐sensing results suggest that most of the laterally advected organic matter in this region is eddy‐driven [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an indirect greenhouse gas and a crucial component of the global carbon cycle. The ocean is an important source of atmospheric CO, but the factors controlling the sources and sinks of CO in the marine environment remain uncertain. For the first time, the spatial distribution, production, and removal pathways of seawater CO (including photoproduction, dark production, microbial consumption, and sea‐to‐air exchange) were systematically investigated in the Eastern Indian Ocean. The abundance and component source of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) dominated the photoproduction and dark production rates of CO, and the net CO production rate was 2.19 ± 0.71 nmol L−1 d−1 (mean ± SD). The ratio of CO photoproduction efficiencies (normalized by solar radiation) for ultraviolet B radiation (UVB): ultraviolet A radiation (UVA): photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was 854: 39: 1, while UVA was the most significant contributor to surface CO photoproduction due to the stronger radiation intensity. In the mixed layer, UVB, UVA, and PAR were estimated to contribute 12% ± 5%, 38% ± 8%, and 50% ± 8% (mean ± SD) to CO photoproduction, respectively. The total removal of CO by microbial consumption (96%) and sea‐to‐air exchange (1%) accounted for 97% of the total production. Overall, the sources and sinks of CO kept a dynamic balance in the mixed layer. Our comprehensive approach provides in‐detail insights into the understanding of CO cycling processes in the Eastern Indian Ocean, which is scientifically important for understanding the bio‐geochemical cycling and climate effects of CO in the Eastern Indian Ocean, and also provides additional data support for the CO global cycle modeling studies. Plain Language Summary: The Eastern Indian Ocean is one of the world's most active monsoonal regions and an essential component of the Indian Ocean warm pool. In addition, there is an extensive oxygen minimum zone in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Despite the potential impact of this region on the global CO cycle, only a few studies have been carried out. Here, we explored the controlling factors leading to the heterogeneous distribution of CO in the surface seawater of the Eastern Indian Ocean by studying sources and sinks. We also simulated CO photoproduction in the mixed layer, where light attenuation affects wavebands differently, and evaluated the corresponding CO budget. This study provides in‐detail insights into the CO cycling processes in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Key Points: Ultraviolet A radiation and photosynthetically effective radiation were the primary drivers of CO photoproduction in the mixed layerDark production accounted for about 20% of the total CO production in the mixed layerMicrobial consumption could remove 99% of the seawater CO before it released into the atmosphere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consequences of climate change may directly or indirectly impact the marine biosphere. Although ocean stratification has been recognized as one of the crucial consequences of ocean warming, its impacts on several critical aspects of marine microbes remain largely unknown in the Indian Ocean. Here, we investigate the effects of water stratification, in both surface and subsurface layers, on hydrogeographic parameters and bacterioplankton diversity within the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). Strong stratification in the upper 200 m of equatorial EIO was detected with evidential low primary productivity. The vertical bacterioplankton diversity of the whole water columns displayed noticeable variation, with lower diversity occurring in the surface layer than in the subsurface layers. Horizontal heterogeneity of bacterioplankton communities was also in the well-mixed layer among different stations. SAR11 and Prochlorococcus displayed uncharacteristic low abundance in the surface water. Some amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified as potential biomarkers for their specific depths in strongly-stratified water columns. Thus, barriers resulting from stratification are proposed to function as an 'ASV filter' to regulate the vertical bacterioplankton community diversity along the water columns. Overall, our results suggest that the effects of stratification on the structure and diversity of bacterioplankton can extend up to the bathypelagic zone in the strongly-stratified waters of the equatorial EIO. This study provides the first insight into the effect of stratification on the subsurface microbial communities in the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-equatorial pathways of heat and salt in the Eastern Indian Ocean are analyzed using Lagrangian trajectories based on the ECCO2 model simulation and drifter-derived currents combined with Argo data. The results show that most of the particles released in the Bay of Bengal move across the equator near the eastern boundary of the upper Indian Ocean (< 50m) during the southwest monsoon season and join the South Equatorial Current of the wind-driven circulation. Meridional salt and heat transports associated with the cross-equatorial currents feature significant seasonal variations, with stronger southward transports during the southwest monsoon than northward transports during the northeast monsoon, which are correlated significantly with the surface Ekman transports. The estimated annual mean salt and heat transports, based on the model (observational) data, are -0.06×109 (-0.11×109) kg·s-1 and -0.20 (-0.38) PW (1PW = 1015 W), respectively, southward across the equator.

Uropterygius cyamommatus, new species, is described based on nine specimens from limestone anchialine caves in Christmas Island and Panglao Island. This species is a small-sized, elongated moray eel belonging to the uniform brown-coloured species group of the genus. It differs from all congeners of Uropterygius in having very small eyes (3.0-4.6% of head length), a relatively long tail (56.3-61.1% of total length), and a comparatively large number of vertebrae (total vertebrae 141-149). The new species represents the first-recorded moray eel that inhabits anchialine caves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genus Echinorhinus is a very poorly known group of deep-water sharks with widespread but patchy distribution in all major oceans. Echinorhinid sharks consist of two valid species, Echinorhinus brucus is reported more commonly in the Indian Ocean region than its congeneric species, E. cookei. Regular data collections in major shark landing sites in Indonesia have documented additional records of both E. brucus and E. cookei from the Indonesian waters, with updated information on their distributions in the Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) is characterized by oligotrophic surface water with abundant dust supply, and thus, this environment is considered to provide a favorable niche for cyanobacterial diazotrophs. However, direct measurements have reported low nitrogen fixation with the dominance of heterotrophic diazotrophs, suggesting that the EIO has unique geophysical features and nutrient supplies controlling diazotrophy, in contrast to those in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In this study, we investigated the activity and community of diazotrophs across the EIO from the Bay of Bengal to the west of Australia. Low nitrogen fixation was observed broadly in the EIO (26.1–75.6 μmol N m−2 d−1), except in the west of Australia (82–286 μmol N m−2 d−1). Although the surface nitrate concentration was low in the EIO, the upward nitrate flux was higher because of the shallower nitracline than that in other oligotrophic oceans. This created widespread conditions with low aeFe:N (supply ratio of aerosol iron to nitrogen), resulting in low nitrogen fixation rates. NifH amplicon sequencing demonstrated the dominance of heterotrophic diazotrophs widely in the EIO, with spatial segregation from cyanobacterial diazotrophs (Trichodesmium, UCYN‐A1). In general, cyanobacterial diazotrophs were abundant in the surface waters of the Bay of Bengal and west of Australia with a high aeFe:N supply, whereas heterotrophic diazotrophs were dominant in other broad regions. This finding demonstrates that the shallow nitracline and associated high upward nitrate supply are key factors for the unique diazotrophy in the EIO. Plain Language Summary: Biological nitrogen fixation is a major source of bioavailable nitrogen in the ocean. The eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) has nitrate‐poor surface waters with a replete dust supply from the continents. Thus, it has been considered to provide a niche preferable for cyanobacterial diazotrophs. However, previous direct measurements have shown low nitrogen fixation and dominance of heterotrophic diazotrophs, suggesting the distinct regulation of diazotrophy in the EIO from that in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Here, we examined the activity and community of diazotrophs in the EIO from the Bay of Bengal to the west of Australia. Nitrogen fixation was generally low in the study area, except in the west of Australia. Low nitrogen fixation was related to shallow nitracline and associated low supply ratio of aerosol iron to nitrogen. We also found the spatial segregations of diazotroph communities in response to regional differences in biogeochemical factors such as temperature and nutrient availability. Our results suggest that the high upward nitrate flux due to the shallow nitracline is an important factor for the unique diazotrophy in the Indian Ocean. Key Points: We broadly found low nitrogen fixation rates and dominance of heterotrophic diazotrophs across the eastern Indian OceanConsistently low nitrogen fixation was attributed to the high upward nitrate flux due to the shallow nitraclineCyanobacterial diazotrophs dominate locally with higher activities in regions with elevated aerosol iron supply against nitrate supply [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics have been found in the marine environment worldwide. Due to their very small size, it could be ingested by marine organisms from small size plankton to big size fish. The aim of this study is to assess the variability of microplastics in three different organs (gills, gastrointestinal tracts, and muscles) of commercial fishes in five different fishing ports in East Java Province, Indonesia. A total of 137 fish samples from 14 species were extracted to identify the types of microplastics. The microplastics found in the fish samples were mostly dominated by fiber, fragments, and a little quantity of film. In most species, the gills accumulated more microplastics compared to the gastrointestinal tracts and muscles. Gill is the organ that is highly exposed to the environmental conditions, therefore, it is more susceptible to the microplastic contamination. The results showed that there was an inverse relationship between the size of the fish and the occurrence of microplastics (P<0.05). Small size Sardinella lemuru contained more microplastics than bigger size fish such as Katsuwonus pelamis. The variability of microplastics found in this study showed important factors such as habitat, fish size, feeding behavior, and organ function which influenced the ingestion process of microplastic. This study also revealed the presence of microplastics were not only in the gills and gastrointestinal tracts of fish, but also in its muscles. Since this study targeted commercial fishes, further research is needed to know the possible impact on human consumption of fish containing microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we train a convolutional neural network (CNN) model using a selection of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) phase 5 and 6 models to investigate the predictability of the sea surface temperature (SST) variability off the Sumatra-Java coast in the tropical southeast Indian Ocean, the eastern pole of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Results show that the CNN model can beat the persistence of the interannual SST variability, such that the eastern IOD (EIOD) SST variability can be forecast up to 6 months in advance. Visualizing the CNN model using a gradient weighted class activation map shows that the strong positive IOD events (cold EIOD SST anomalies) can stem from different processes: internal Indian Ocean dynamics were associated with the 1994 positive IOD, teleconnection from the equatorial Pacific was important in 1997, and cooling off the Australian coast in the southeast Indian Ocean contributed to the 2019 positive IOD. The CNN model overcomes the winter prediction barrier of the IOD, to a large extent due to the frequent transition from a warm state of the Indian Ocean to a negative IOD condition (warm EIOD SST anomalies) over the boreal winter to the following spring period. The forecasting skills of the CNN model are on par with predictions from a coupled seasonal forecasting model (ACCESS-S2), even outperforming this dynamic model in seasons leading to the IOD peaks. The ability of the CNN model to identify key dynamic drivers of the EIOD SST variability suggests that the CMIP models can capture the internal Indian Ocean variability and its teleconnection with the Pacific climate variability.

Distribution and carbon biomass of planktonic foraminifera were investigated from the euphotic zone of the Eastern Indian Ocean during a two-month cruise, 'Shiyan I' (10 April–13 May 2014). Foraminifera species were collected through plankton net sampling at 44 locations (80.00°–96.10° E, 10.08° N–6.00° S). The temperature (°C) ranged between 12.82 and 31.8 °C, the salinity ranged between 32.5 and 35.5, and chlorophyll-a concentrations ranged between 0.005 µg/L and 0.89 µg/L. A total of 20 taxa were identified based on the spherical chamber shell, spines, and a final whorl which were examined under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Dominant species that were characterized by the high dominant index Y > 0.14–0.46 were Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinoides ruber white, Globigerinella siphonifera, Turborotalita quinqueloba, and Globigerinella calida, contributing to the community up to 86%. The shell size of collected taxa was from 51 to 508 μm and the total carbon biomass was estimated to be between 0.062 µg C m–3 and 26.52 µg C m–3. The high carbon biomass was recorded at two stations in the equator zone. Due to its large size, Globorotalia menardii had total carbon biomass of 3.9 µg C m–3, followed by G. calida 0.68 µg C m−3, Trilobatus sacculifer 0.38 µg C m–3, Orbulina universa 0.56 µg C m–3, and G. ruber white 0.22 µg C m–3, respectively. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that the temperature and chlorophyll-a were two explanatory environmental variables that were found to be highly significant (p < 0.05) and that triggered the distribution and abundance of dominant foraminifera species in the study region. Overall, high abundances and carbon biomass were derived from the euphotic zone and equatorial region of the Eastern Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytoplankton sinking rate in the eastern Indian Ocean was measured during spring 2017 based on the SETCOL method. The range of phytoplankton sinking rates was −0.291 to 2.188 md−1, with an average of 0.420 ± 0.646 md−1. The phytoplankton sinking rate in the Equator (EQ) and the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean near Sumatra (EB) was lower than that in the Bay of Bengal (BOB). The sinking rate above 100 m was low and increased rapidly below 100 m in all the three regions. The phytoplankton community composition had an important impact on the phytoplankton sinking rate in the east Indian Ocean. The strong stratification in BOB resulted in Trichodesmium spp. bloom and a lower phytoplankton diversity and evenness in BOB, while the phytoplankton in the deep layer are senescent cells that sink down from the upper layer and cannot actively regulate the state of the cells, resulting in a higher sinking rate. Depth and temperature have a great impact on the physiological state of phytoplankton. The sinking rate of phytoplankton depend on the dominant groups composing the phytoplankton community. For the eastern Indian Ocean, seawater stratification caused by temperature changes the distribution of nutrients in the upper layer, and phytoplankton are affected by temperature and nutrients, resulting in changes in community structure, and finally showing different subsidence characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water‐soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is a substantial component of carbonaceous aerosols in South/East Asia. However, the poorly constrained sources, molecular compositions, and light absorption properties of WSOC over South/East Asian marine regions lead to large uncertainty in climate effects. Herein, we collected marine aerosol samples from South China Sea to the eastern Indian Ocean to investigate the sources, molecular compositions, and light absorption properties of WSOC. The δ13C of Marine‐influenced WSOC (−20.6 ± 1.4‰) was higher than those in Continent‐influenced (South Asia‐influenced: −24.4 ± 1.1‰ and Southeast Asia‐influenced: −22.7 ± 1.0‰, p < 0.01) regions. Additionally, combining with 5‐day back trajectories and the relationships of δ13C‐WSOC with chemical tracers (Cl−/Na+ and nonsea salt K+/K+), we found that the Marine‐influenced WSOC was mostly related to oceanic emissions, which was more enriched in saturated primary marine biological compounds with lower oxidation level. In contrast, the Continent‐influenced WSOC was significantly affected by C3 biomass burning and secondary organic aerosols formation, and it has a higher fraction of aromatic and highly oxidized compounds. Moreover, the high aromatic level of Continental‐influenced WSOC may result in high mass absorption efficiency at 365 nm (MAE365) but low absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) values. Taken together with previous WSOC light absorption properties studies, we found that the MAE365 of WSOC in urban, rural and background, and marine regions correlated well with AAE. However, the response and correlation coefficients of MAE365 to AAE were highest in urban regions, followed by rural and background and marine regions, which is likely associated with different aromatic compound contents. Therefore, in the future, more attention should be paid to the sources and atmospheric processes of condensed aromatic compounds. Key Points: The Continent‐influenced and Marine‐influenced WSOC were significantly affected by anthropogenic and oceanic emissions, respectivelyThe Continental‐influenced WSOC was more enriched in aromatic compounds, with stronger light absorption capacity than Marine‐influenced WSOCDifference in response and correlation coefficients of MAE365 to AAE in different regions may be related to varied aromatic compound contents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean acidification (OA) and global warming-induced water column stratification can significantly alter phytoplankton-related biological activity in the marine ecosystem. Yet how these changes may play out in the tropical Indian Ocean remains unclear. This study investigated the ecological and metabolic responses of the different phytoplankton functional groups to elevated CO2 partial pressure and nitrate deficiency in two different environments of the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). It is revealed that phytoplankton growth and metabolic rates are more sensitive to inorganic nutrients rather than CO2. The combined interactive effects of OA and N-limitation on phytoplankton populations are functional group-specific. In particular, the abundance and calcification rate of calcifying coccolithophores are expected to be enhanced in the future EIO. The underlying mechanisms for this enhancement may be ascribed to coccolithophore's lower carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) efficiency and OA-induced [HCO3−] increase. In comparison, the abundance of non-calcifying microphytoplankton (e.g., diatoms and dinoflagellates) and primary productivity would be inhibited under those conditions. Different from previous laboratory experiments, interspecific competition for resources would be an important consideration in the natural phytoplankton populations. These combined factors would roughly determine calcifying coccolithophores as "winners" and non-calcifying microphytoplankton as "losers" in the future ocean scenario. Due to the large species-specific differences in phytoplankton sensitivity to OA, comprehensive investigations on oceanic phytoplankton communities are essential to precisely predict phytoplankton ecophysiological response to ocean acidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Picophytoplankton (pico) in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) were investigated during the inter-monsoon periods. They were found to typically comprise Prochlorococcus (Pro), Synechococcus (Syn), and Picoeukaryotes (PEuks). In the survey area, the pico showed two different vertical distribution patterns in different regions, whereby the Syn abundance decreased with depth, whereas those of Pro and PEuks increased and then decreased with depth, with the maximum depths ranging from 50 to 100 m. The cell abundance and community structure of the pico were similar at the equator (EQ) and the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean near Sumatra (EB), but the pico cell abundance was significantly lower in the Bay of Bengal (BOB). Pro dominated most regions of the entire EIO and were approximately one-to-two orders of magnitude more abundant than Syn and PEuks. The distributions of Syn and PEuks showed little difference across various regions. Influenced by the physicochemistry of circulation and water masses, there were many different environmental factors in the different regions. The abundance of pico domination by Pro showed a strong positive correlation with the nutrients and salinity in the survey area, indicating increasing nutrient availability, particularly in the oligotrophic EIO. Generalized additive models (GAMs) analysis showed the differences in their responses to environmental variability. Pro and PEuks both increased strongly with warming up to below 26 °C, and Pro and PEuks were more responsive to chemical (nutrient) variability. Syn showed a broader tolerance of low-salinity conditions. In a certain range, an increase in nitrite and nitric acid can improve the cell abundance of Pro. As a significant contributor to primary productivity in oligotrophic waters, this study provides essential information for studying pico communities in the EIO and its adjacent marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reveals the first documented distribution record of Desmodema polystictum (Ogilby, 1898) from the Andaman coast, eastern Indian Ocean. The species is rare in nature and the knowledge regarding the taxonomy, ecology and distribution is still limited. Only few records have been come from the Indian Ocean. The study is based on a single specimen (34 cm total length) collected from the northeastern region of Andaman Islands, India. The present record of D. polystictum from Andaman waters provides greater latitude and depth distribution than previously acknowledged from the Indian Exclusive Economic zone. Along with the comparative morphometric and meristic data from previous reports, description of present specimen as well as distributional information are also provided and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine picocyanobacteria Synechococcus exhibit highly diverse pigment types (PTs) and hence possess great advantage to utilize different spectrum of light effectively and to occupy a wide range of light niches. In this study, we explored the diversity of Synechococcus PTs in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO), surface water of Strait of Malacca (SSM), and coastal waters of Sri Lanka (SSL). All the detected PTs were phycourobilin (PUB) containing PT 3 and showed distinct distribution patterns. Low PUB PT 3a and partial chromatic acclimater PT 3eA dominated in coastal and shallow waters (SSM and SSL). In contrast, high PUB and chromatic acclimaters PT 3dA and PT 3c/3dB were mainly distributed in open ocean (EIO). PT 3dA and PT 3c/3dB occurred at similar depths of the lower euphotic layers but showed distinct distribution pattern that are partially exclusive, indicating that they compete with each other for the same light niche. Interestingly, the newly described PT 3f was detected with high relative abundances at all stations and particularly dominated in the upper euphotic layer in EIO, which was confirmed with PT-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The relative abundance of PT 3f was negatively correlated with nutrient level, implying that PT 3f is adapted to oligotrophic waters. Pronounced niche partition of different PTs was observed in the upper and lower layers of euphotic zone in EIO and SSM/SSL. Light, nutrients, and strong stratification may play important roles in the niche partition of different PTs. Further analysis about ecologically significant taxonomic units revealed high diversity within each PT at different locations, which provided insights for understanding specific PT with wide range of niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remotely sensed data and habitat model approach were employed to evaluate the present of oceanographic aspect in the Bigeye tuna's potential fishing zone (PFZ) at a profundity of 155 m. Vessel monitoring system was employed to acquire the angling vessels for Bigeye tuna from January through December, 2015-2016. Daily data of sub-surface temperature (Sub_ST), sub-surface chlorophyll-a (Sub_SC), and sub-surface salinity (Sub_SS) were downloaded from INDESO Project website. Vessel monitoring system and environmental data were employed for maximum entropy (maxent) model development. The model predictive achievement was then estimated applying the area under the curve (AUC) value. Maxent model results (AUC>0.745) exhibited its probable to understand the Bigeye tuna's spatial dispersion on the specific sub-surface. In addition, the results also showed Sub_ST (43,1%) was the most affective aspect in the Bigeye tuna dispersion, pursued by Sub_SC (35,2%) and Sub_SS (21,6%).

Marine picocyanobacteria Synechococcus exhibit highly diverse pigment types (PTs) and hence possess great advantage to utilize different spectrum of light effectively and to occupy a wide range of light niches. In this study, we explored the diversity of Synechococcus PTs in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO), surface water of Strait of Malacca (SSM), and coastal waters of Sri Lanka (SSL). All the detected PTs were phycourobilin (PUB) containing PT 3 and showed distinct distribution patterns. Low PUB PT 3a and partial chromatic acclimater PT 3eA dominated in coastal and shallow waters (SSM and SSL). In contrast, high PUB and chromatic acclimaters PT 3dA and PT 3c/3dB were mainly distributed in open ocean (EIO). PT 3dA and PT 3c/3dB occurred at similar depths of the lower euphotic layers but showed distinct distribution pattern that are partially exclusive, indicating that they compete with each other for the same light niche. Interestingly, the newly described PT 3f was detected with high relative abundances at all stations and particularly dominated in the upper euphotic layer in EIO, which was confirmed with PT-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The relative abundance of PT 3f was negatively correlated with nutrient level, implying that PT 3f is adapted to oligotrophic waters. Pronounced niche partition of different PTs was observed in the upper and lower layers of euphotic zone in EIO and SSM/SSL. Light, nutrients, and strong stratification may play important roles in the niche partition of different PTs. Further analysis about ecologically significant taxonomic units revealed high diversity within each PT at different locations, which provided insights for understanding specific PT with wide range of niches.

The consequences of climate change may directly or indirectly impact the marine biosphere. Although ocean stratification has been recognized as one of the crucial consequences of ocean warming, its impacts on several critical aspects of marine microbes remain largely unknown in the Indian Ocean. Here, we investigate the effects of water stratification, in both surface and subsurface layers, on hydrogeographic parameters and bacterioplankton diversity within the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). Strong stratification in the upper 200 m of equatorial EIO was detected with evidential low primary productivity. The vertical bacterioplankton diversity of the whole water columns displayed noticeable variation, with lower diversity occurring in the surface layer than in the subsurface layers. Horizontal heterogeneity of bacterioplankton communities was also in the well-mixed layer among different stations. SAR11 and Prochlorococcus displayed uncharacteristic low abundance in the surface water. Some amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified as potential biomarkers for their specific depths in strongly-stratified water columns. Thus, barriers resulting from stratification are proposed to function as an ‘ASV filter’ to regulate the vertical bacterioplankton community diversity along the water columns. Overall, our results suggest that the effects of stratification on the structure and diversity of bacterioplankton can extend up to the bathypelagic zone in the strongly-stratified waters of the equatorial EIO. This study provides the first insight into the effect of stratification on the subsurface microbial communities in the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean.

Seamounts are widespread underwater topographic features in the ocean that exert an influential role in shaping the microbial biogeographic distribution. Nevertheless, research on the differences in microbial biogeographic distribution between seamount and non-seamount upper water column is still lacking, particularly in the Indian Ocean where studies are limited. In the present study, a total of 45 seawater samples were collected from the water column (5-200 m) of seamounts (HS) and non-seamounts (E87 transect) regions in the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) for the analysis of microbial biogeographic patterns and community assembly processes. The results indicated that bacterial community diversity did not differ significantly between the HS and E87 transect regions; however, the community composition was significantly different. Additionally, bacterial community diversity, composition, as well as structure were more affected by depth than by region. Community diversity tended to increase with depth in E87 transect region, while it tended to decrease in HS region. A distance decay analysis also demonstrated that bacterial communities were more influenced by environmental and depth distances than geographic distances. In the assembly of bacterial communities on HS and E87 transect regions, as well as at different depths, stochastic processes, particularly dispersal limitation, were found to be predominant. These findings enhance our comprehension of bacterial community characteristics in the upper seawater of seamounts and non-seamounts regions in the EIO and offer insights into the assembly processes shaping microbial communities at varying depths., Importance: By comparing the bacterial diversity, composition, and structure in the upper seawater of seamount and non-seamount areas, we provide valuable insights into the influential role of seamounts in shaping microbial biogeography. The finding that the depth had a more significant impact on bacterial community characteristics than region underscores the importance of considering vertical stratification when examining microbial distributions. Moreover, the dominance of stochastic processes, particularly dispersal limitation, in governing community assembly across both seamount and non-seamount areas offers critical implications for the mechanisms underlying microbial biogeographic patterns in these dynamic ocean environments. This study expands the current knowledge and lays the groundwork for further investigations into the complex interactions between oceanographic features, environmental gradients, and microbial community dynamics in the Indian Ocean., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The present study involves the first measurements of size-fractionated biogenic silica (bSi) standing stocks and production rates in the oligotrophic Eastern Indian Ocean. The 150-m integrated bSi standing stocks in the pico- and nanosized fractions averaged 49% and 39%, respectively, of the total; the contributions of pico- and nanoplankton to total bSi production rates were 43% and 38%, respectively, together suggesting that these smaller plankton contributed a significant proportion of both the total bSi standing stock and its rate of production. The total bSi variability appeared to be driven by smaller-plankton dynamics. Also, our results suggest that the detrital bSi stocks were potentially sustained by the pico- and nanosized siliceous organisms (for example, Minidiscus and Synechococcus) instead of broken fragments of large diatoms or other siliceous microplankton. In particular, the atomically dense structure from Synechococcus cell lysis was enriched in Si element compared with intact cells. The factors controlling size-fractionated bSi standing stocks may be biological rather than physical processes, and the clear correlation between picoeukaryotes and the < 2 μm bSi further confirmed the possibility of Si accumulation by other smaller plankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the spatial pattern and controlling factors of the primary productivity (PP) of phytoplankton in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO), deck-incubation carbon fixation (a 14C tracer technique) and the related hydrographic properties were measured at 15 locations during the pre-summer monsoon season (February–April 2017). There are knowledge gaps in the field observations of PP in the EIO. The estimated daily carbon production rates integrated over the photic zone ranged from 113 to 817 mgC m–2 d–1, with a mean of 522 mgC m–2 d–1. The mixed-layer integrated primary production (MLD-PP) ranged from 29.0 to 303.7 mgC m–2 d–1 (mean: 177.2 mgC m–2 d–1). The contribution of MLD-PP to the photic zone-integrated PP (PZI-PP) varied between 19 and 51% (mean: 36%). Strong spatial variability in the carbon fixation rates was found in the study region. Specifically, the surface primary production rates were relatively higher in the Bay of Bengal domain affected by riverine flux and lower in the equatorial domain owing to the presence of intermonsoonal Wyrtki jets, which were characterized by a depression of thermocline and nitracline. The PZI-PP exhibited a linear (positive) relationship with nutrient values, but with no significance, indicating a partial control of macronutrients and a light limitation of carbon fixation. As evident from the vertical profiles, the primary production process mainly occurred above the nitracline depth and at high photosynthetic efficiency. Phytoplankton (>5 μm), including dinoflagellates, Trichodesmium, coccolithophores, and dissolved nutrients, are thought to have been correlated with primary production during the study period. The measured on-deck biological data of our study allow for a general understanding of the trends in PP in the survey area of the EIO and can be incorporated into global primary production models.

The Ninety East Ridge is a submarine north–south oriented volcanic ridge in the eastern Indian Ocean. Surface-layer ichthyoplankton collected in this area from September to October were identified by combined morphological and molecular (DNA barcoding) techniques, and their species composition, diversity, and abundance, and correlations with environmental variables were described. Collections comprised 109 larvae and 507 eggs, which were identified to 37 taxa in 7 orders, 20 families, and 27 genera, and were dominated by the order Perciformes and species Vinciguerria sp., Oxyporhamphus micropterus, and Decapterus macarellus. Species abundances at each station and of each species were relatively low, suggesting that this area or the time of sampling were not of major importance for fish spawning. Waters above Ninety East Ridge had lower species diversity but higher species richness than waters further offshore. A generalized additive model revealed that high abundance of ichthyoplanktonic taxa occurred in areas with low sea surface height and high sea surface salinity, temperature, and chlorophyll a concentration. Of these, sea surface height was most correlated with ichthyoplankton abundance. We provided baseline data on surface-dwelling ichthyoplankton communities in this area to aid in development of pelagic fishery resources in waters around the Ninety East Ridge.

Exogenous nutrient inputs increasingly impact the structure and function of marine food weds through abiotic and biotic ways. The influence of nutrient inputs from atmospheric depositions and intermediate seawater supply on the phytoplankton growth and stoichiometry was studied in the Eastern Indian Ocean through multifactorial mesocosm experiments. Our results indicate that nitrogen inputs from atmospheric deposition and hydrodynamic processes did not only promote chlorophyll a biomass (5.3–58.52 μg·L-1) to increase the photosynthetically fixed carbon content but also generate a regime shift from picophytoplankton cyanobacteria to microphytoplankton diatom indicated by high relative abundance of microphytoplankton (>50%). These alternations of nutrient status and phytoplankton community structure reduced biodiversity of marine ecosystems (N-cultures, 0.18 to 0.56; control, 0.63) and generated the attendant C/N ratio of 5.6 ± 0.2 in cultures with nitrogen addition that was significantly lower than cultures with only phosphorus or iron addition. These results provide a thorough insight about the influence of nutrient inputs on marine biogeochemical cycle. Considering the universality of phytoplankton community alteration induced by exogenous nutrient inputs, integrating community compositions with phytoplankton stoichiometry may be helpful for clarify mechanisms of environment events impacting marine food weds.

Microbial communities are composed of many rare species and a few abundant species. Considering the disproportionate importance of rare species for ecosystem functioning, it is important to understand the mechanisms structuring the rare and abundant components of a diverse community in response to environmental changes. Here, we used a 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing approach to investigate the bacterial community diversity in the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) during the monsoon and intermonsoon. We employed a phylogenetic null model and network analysis to evaluate the assembly processes and co-occurrence pattern of the microbial community. We found that higher bacterial diversity was detected in the intermonsoon with high temperature and low Chlorophyll a concentrations and N/P ratios. The balance between ecological deterministic processes and stochastic processes varied with seasons in the EIO. Meanwhile, conditionally rare taxa (CRT) were more likely modulated by variable selection processes than always rare taxa (ART) and abundant taxa (AT) (CRT > ART > AT). By linking assembly process and species co-occurrence, we demonstrated that the microbial co-occurrence associations tended to be higher when deterministic processes (mainly variable selection) were weaker. This negative trend was observed in rare species rather than abundant species. The linkage could enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms underpinning the generation and maintenance of microbial community diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamics of picophytoplankton and photosynthesis will be inevitably impacted by changing marine environment, such as ocean acidification and nutrient supply, but related studies are very scarce. Here we cultured the picophytoplankton-dominated surface water of the oligotrophic Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO; R/V Shiyan-3, 20 March to 18 May 2019) at two levels of pCO2 (400 and 1000 ppm) and phosphate (0.05 and 1.50 µM) to investigate the interactive effects of elevated pCO2 and phosphate (P) on the dynamics of picophytoplankton and photosynthetic properties. High pCO2 and P levels interactively increased the abundances of Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes by 33%, 18%, and 21%, respectively, of which high P level had a major promoting effect. Conversely, rising pCO2 alone decreased their abundances by 9%, 32%, and 46%, respectively. For the photophysiological responses in relation to the combination of high pCO2 and P levels, there was an increase in the maximum (Fv/Fm) and effective (Fq'/Fm') photochemical efficiency, the electron transfer rates (ETRRCII) and the charge separation rates (JVPSII, an indicator of primary production), but a decrease in the non-photochemical quenching (NPQNSV). Elevated pCO2 alone facilitated the NPQNSV process significantly, ultimately leading to reduced light use efficiency (e.g., Fv/Fm, Fq'/Fm' and ETRRCII) and primary production (JVPSII). There was a strong coupling of picophytoplankton and JVPSII, suggesting the EIO primary productivity was potentially controlled by picophytoplankton. Overall, our results indicate that the negative effects caused by ocean acidification may be masked or outweighted by the role that P availability plays in regulating growth and metabolism in this oligotrophic ecosystem.

Reliable catch information is scarce for most sharks and rays worldwide, with almost half of the stocks considered to be Data Deficient due to limited species-specific catch statistics. Western Australia (WA) hosts a diverse number of shark and ray species, some of which are considered to be threatened with extinction at a global level. Commercial catch statistics only account for shark and ray landings. The present study used the best available information to reconstruct unaccounted and unreported catches for 47 shark and ray taxa to better understand the impact of fishing. For some species, there was good agreement between reconstructed catches and reported landings, but overall reconstructed catches were 57% higher than those derived from official statistics alone, underestimating the actual extraction level for many species. The reconstructed catch time series provide the basis for the assessment of all species of sharks and rays captured in WA, including protected species that interact with commercial and recreational fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytoplankton sinking rate in the eastern Indian Ocean was measured during spring 2017 based on the SETCOL method. The range of phytoplankton sinking rates was −0.291 to 2.188 md−1, with an average of 0.420 ± 0.646 md−1. The phytoplankton sinking rate in the Equator (EQ) and the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean near Sumatra (EB) was lower than that in the Bay of Bengal (BOB). The sinking rate above 100 m was low and increased rapidly below 100 m in all the three regions. The phytoplankton community composition had an important impact on the phytoplankton sinking rate in the east Indian Ocean. The strong stratification in BOB resulted in Trichodesmium spp. bloom and a lower phytoplankton diversity and evenness in BOB, while the phytoplankton in the deep layer are senescent cells that sink down from the upper layer and cannot actively regulate the state of the cells, resulting in a higher sinking rate. Depth and temperature have a great impact on the physiological state of phytoplankton. The sinking rate of phytoplankton depend on the dominant groups composing the phytoplankton community. For the eastern Indian Ocean, seawater stratification caused by temperature changes the distribution of nutrients in the upper layer, and phytoplankton are affected by temperature and nutrients, resulting in changes in community structure, and finally showing different subsidence characteristics.

Picophytoplankton (pico) in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) were investigated during the inter-monsoon periods. They were found to typically comprise Prochlorococcus (Pro), Synechococcus (Syn), and Picoeukaryotes (PEuks). In the survey area, the pico showed two different vertical distribution patterns in different regions, whereby the Syn abundance decreased with depth, whereas those of Pro and PEuks increased and then decreased with depth, with the maximum depths ranging from 50 to 100 m. The cell abundance and community structure of the pico were similar at the equator (EQ) and the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean near Sumatra (EB), but the pico cell abundance was significantly lower in the Bay of Bengal (BOB). Pro dominated most regions of the entire EIO and were approximately one-to-two orders of magnitude more abundant than Syn and PEuks. The distributions of Syn and PEuks showed little difference across various regions. Influenced by the physicochemistry of circulation and water masses, there were many different environmental factors in the different regions. The abundance of pico domination by Pro showed a strong positive correlation with the nutrients and salinity in the survey area, indicating increasing nutrient availability, particularly in the oligotrophic EIO. Generalized additive models (GAMs) analysis showed the differences in their responses to environmental variability. Pro and PEuks both increased strongly with warming up to below 26 °C, and Pro and PEuks were more responsive to chemical (nutrient) variability. Syn showed a broader tolerance of low-salinity conditions. In a certain range, an increase in nitrite and nitric acid can improve the cell abundance of Pro. As a significant contributor to primary productivity in oligotrophic waters, this study provides essential information for studying pico communities in the EIO and its adjacent marine ecosystems.

The detailed transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) distribution, sinking behavior and the potential mechanisms behind that were revealed in the upper 200 m water column of the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). The biological process and nutrient limitation have proved to be non‐negligible, both of which possessed potential functions in controlling the TEP pool. TEP production and fate presented significant subregional variations in the study area. The vertical distributions of TEP displayed coherent declined patterns with depth between the marginal sea and pelagic ecosystems, but the concentration of TEP horizontally decreased from marginal sea to open ocean. Dissimilarly, variable distribution patterns and magnitudes were distinguished between stratified and active current zones with the conclusion that the stratified condition was in favor of downward remove of TEP pool but turbulence facilitated the accumulation of TEP especially in the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) layer. Distinct sinking regimes of TEP in the stratified zone were distinguishable between layers, with the regulatory mechanisms in the upper, DCM and lower layer of water column being physical diffusion of denser seawater and solutes, aggregation by biotic and abiotic processes and buoyancy effect by entrained lighter fluid, respectively. By comparing the theoretical and measured sinking rates of TEP‐formed aggregates and considering the complicated and uncontrollable situations in non‐culture scenarios, the coupling effects of physical and biological variables on TEP dynamics were elucidated, thus providing a compelling theory for predicting the downward fate of carbon flux in the field environments. Plain Language Summary: Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) have been brought into focus owing to their close relation with carbon cycle. However, the inconstant nature of TEP limits our understanding of TEP dynamic process, especially in situ. In this study, we measured TEP sinking rates onboard in the eastern Indian Ocean by recording the concentration variations between layers in the settling column after a given time. The fundamental purpose of this work was to expound the transport pattern of TEP above the 200 m‐depth water column ​in complicated field environment. We constructed a simplified model to emphatically discuss the functional mechanisms of physical diffusion and aggregation in the stratified environment. We also compared the measured sinking rates with the theatrical values by considering the varied properties of seawater and particles. The used measuring method for TEP sinking rates turned out to be receivable on one hand, and the model results helped explain the observed phenomena on the other hand. The changes of ambient variables as well as physical attributes of TEP were taken into account to draw a more integrated conclusion, which would provide a potential novel approach to figure out the carbon budget driven by TEP pool. Key Points: Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) distribution and sinking dynamic were uncovered in non‐culture fields based on the model and statistical analysis methodsThe coupling of physical and biological factor has proved to be defining in controlling the production and fate of TEPThe coordinated variation of TEP physical attributes tend to determine the ratio between the upward and downward flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eocene Epoch corresponds to the runup toward the Greenhouse to Icehouse Cenozoic transition. To fully appreciate this climate evolution, detailed and accurate age‐depth models are required. While much progress has been made recently in the field of Eocene astrochronology, the construction of unambiguous Eocene astronomical timescales (ATS) is hampered by lithologically undetected hiatuses, the scarcity of carbonate‐rich marine successions, and conflicting cyclostratigraphies. In this study, we present an orbital‐scale cyclostratigraphy for Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 762C, and we reconstruct Eastern Indian Ocean dynamics. This reconstruction is based on two ocean‐drilling Eocene sequences: ODP Hole 762C and International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1514. Our eccentricity‐based cyclostratigraphy for Hole 762C is integrated with existing bio and magnetostratigraphies and constitutes the most precise available chronology for this legacy site. The Hole 762C stratigraphy is combined with the existing Site U1514 age‐depth model to obtain a high‐resolution Eocene ATS for the Eastern Indian Ocean. We apply sedimentary noise modeling to obtain new insights in benthic turbulence at both sites. Despite the significant difference in paleo‐waterdepth, noise levels at both sites carry a 1.2‐Myr obliquity amplitude imprint. We interpret the sedimentary noise at Hole 762C, on a submarine plateau, in terms of sea‐level change. The sedimentary noise at U1514, by contrary, is interpreted to be modulated by bottom current intensity as this site represents a deep‐sea basinal environment. We conclude that, despite very similar astronomical signatures, the mechanistic pathways between astronomical forcing and sedimentary response were radically different at these two sites. Key Points: Cyclostratigraphy applied to two Eocene Indian Ocean scientific drilling records reveals the fingerprint of orbital eccentricitySedimentary noise at both sites contains a 1.2‐Myr obliquity imprint, albeit in antiphase: Mechanisms causing noise are thus differentWhile sea‐level change causes noise at shallower sites, bottom current intensity might introduce sedimentary noise at deep‐ocean sites [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coccolithophores are calcifying protists that have a significant role in marine biological pump through calcite production (CP). We determined the biological calcification rate and ecologically key species (e.g., Gephyrocapsa oceanica) contribution to total calcite stocks in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) during spring intermonsoon; this region was quite undersampled compared to other oceanic regions. Our results indicated that the numerically dominant species are of great importance to cell calcite even with low cellular calcite. CP rate in EIO ranged from 0.148 to 85.017 μmol C·m−3·day−1 in the entire data set, which was lower than those in the global ocean. Coccolithophores contributed 8.5% of total phytoplankton carbon fixation. CP acted as a function of light irradiance in the euphotic zone, while a decoupling between CP and primary productivity was found in most of the bottom of euphotic zone. To some degree, this decoupling indicated calcification was more nitrate dependent and less light dependent than photosynthesis. CP/primary productivity ratios were highly variable in our database and were possibly influenced by photoacclimation across various coccolithophore species. As roughly estimated, the turnover rate of coccolith calcite took values around 0.02–0.05 day−1. The association between particulate organic carbon and calcite stocks implied a potential increasing ballast as depth increase. The current profiles of calcification and associated biogeochemical elements obtained from this field study helps our understanding about characteristics of biological pump in the EIO and are valuable for estimating calcification rate in the region using satellite data and numerical modeling. Key Points: Numerically abundant species characterized by small nannoliths were major contributors of total coccolith calcite stocksCoccolithophores contributed 8.5% of total phytoplankton carbon fixation in eastern Indian OceanParticulate organic carbon (POC) and calcite stocks implied a potential increasing ballast effect with depth [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remotely sensed data and habitat model approach were employed to evaluate the present of oceanographic aspect in the Bigeye tuna's potential fishing zone (PFZ) at a profundity of 155 m. Vessel monitoring system was employed to acquire the angling vessels for Bigeye tuna from January through December, 2015-2016. Daily data of sub-surface temperature (Sub_ST), sub-surface chlorophyll-a (Sub_SC), and sub-surface salinity (Sub_SS) were downloaded from INDESO Project website. Vessel monitoring system and environmental data were employed for maximum entropy (maxent) model development. The model predictive achievement was then estimated applying the area under the curve (AUC) value. Maxent model results (AUC>0.745) exhibited its probable to understand the Bigeye tuna's spatial dispersion on the specific sub-surface. In addition, the results also showed Sub_ST (43,1%) was the most affective aspect in the Bigeye tuna dispersion, pursued by Sub_SC (35,2%) and Sub_SS (21,6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is hardly any dispute that the Eastern Indian Ocean like its historical past is once again emerging into a ‘cosmopolitan’ maritime arena underpinned by long stretches of peaceful exchange of commodities, energy and other maritime accessories. It has witnessed a new constellation of ‘inward-looking’ regional powers with a ‘bazaar nexus’ (for mercantile goods and energy supply) with Asian and non-Asian powers. Economically, small and middle powers of this region do share and accommodate all to draw the benefits of a highly globalised ‘closely-knit’ mercantile system. Problems relating to trade hazards—‘maritime mugging,’ ‘sea piracy,’ ‘illegal transfer of arms and ammunition, maritime terrorism, has already been addressed adequately by the collective effort of member nations under the aegis of ASEAN. This goodwill effort in the maritime zone awaits response from the cultural domain as well, which still lacks its frequency and luster of the glorious past. Although loads have been talked about, there has been little in action. The present paper is an attempt to study the community building efforts of ASEAN in connivance with emerging powers like India and China; and efforts at building up an Indian Ocean community as it existed in its past—sans feuds, sans fight—but unhindered exchange of culture and trade