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Understanding the spatial and temporal preferences of toxic phytoplankton species is of paramount importance in managing and predicting harmful events in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we addressed the realised niche of the species Alexandrium minutum, Pseudo-nitzschia fraudulenta and P. australis to highlight distribution patterns at different scales and determine possible drivers. To achieve this goal, we developed original procedures coupling niche theory and habitat suitability modelling using abundance data in 4 consecutive steps: (1) estimate the realised niche applying kernel functions, (2) assess differences between the species’ niches as a whole and at the local level, (3) develop habitat and temporal suitability models using niche overlap procedures and (4) explore species temporal and spatial distributions to highlight possible drivers. We used data on species abundance and environmental variables collected over 27 yr (1988-2014), including 139 coastal water sampling sites along the French Atlantic coast. Results showed that the niches occupied by A. minutum and P. australis are very different, although both species exhibit a preference for warmer months. They both respond to decadal summer North Atlantic Oscillation (sNAO) but in an opposite way. P. fraudulenta’s realised niche lies in between that of the 2 other species; it also prefers warmer months but does not respond to decadal sNAO. The Brittany peninsula is now classified as an area of prevalence for the 3 species. The methodology used here will allow us to anticipate species distributions in the event of future environmental challenges resulting from climate change scenarios.

12 pages, 8 figures, 1 table.-- Data availability: Data will be made available on request, Subpolar coastal waters are key hotspots in the global carbon cycle. However, the small-scale distribution of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) in these environments and the physical and biological controls underlying this variability are still poorly understood. Here, we examine simultaneous high-resolution spatial measurements of wind speed and pCO2, temperature, salinity, and in-vivo chlorophyll-a fluorescence (chl-a fluo, a proxy of phytoplankton biomass) in surface waters that were obtained during an oceanographic survey in the Argentinian Beagle Channel (subantarctic Atlantic Patagonian) in early fall 2017. The 240 km study transect (centered at 55°S - 67°W) was divided into two zones: (A1) The Beagle Channel innermost portion, semi-enclosed and subject to strong continental influence and (A2) its eastern outlet towards the open Southwest Atlantic. Discrete seawater samples were also collected for apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), nutrients and pH measurements. High-resolution spatial measurements revealed the persistence of pCO2 below atmospheric equilibrium, increasing in median (interquartile range 25–75%) from 314 μatm in the inner Beagle Channel (A1) to 348 μatm towards the adjacent open sea (A2). A decrease in atmospheric CO2 sequestration was associated with an increase in water temperature from 9.5 °C to 10.7 °C, salinity from 30.8 to 32.5, and chl-a fluo from 2.24 to 2.91 mg m−3 along the coastal-offshore gradient. Low AOU and nutrient levels were found in regions inside the channel. Indeed, the relationships between CO2 and temperature or salinity were significantly different from those expected from the theoretical solubility effect, indicating a dominance of metabolic over physicochemical controls on this gas. Moreover, physical factors such as vertical stratification contributed to the variable surface pCO2 values. These findings reveal the existence of short-scale spatial variability of CO2 in the Beagle Channel, improving our understanding of the multiple controls on atmospheric carbon sequestration in extensive subpolar continental shelves, We acknowledge support from the Spanish Government through grants CTM2014-56987-P (VA-DE-RETRO Project) and RTI2018-100844-B-C33 (SAGA project) and also recognize the institutional support of the Spanish Government through the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S). This study was funded by grants from the Council for Research and Scientific Development of Brazil (CNPq, 203366/2019-0, 314995/2020-0) and the Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (E-26/211.329/2021 and E-26/201.118/2022). H.M. and L.C.C. were awarded by CNPq Research Productivity and FAPERJ Scientist of Our State fellowships. L.C.C. was awarded by UERJ/PROCIENCIA fellowship

11 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, This dataset, gathered during the RETRO-BMC cruise, reports multiple-scale measurements at the Confluence of the Brazil and Malvinas Currents. The cruise was carried out between 8 and 28 April 2017 onboard R/V Hespérides, departing from Ushuaia and arriving to Santos. Along its track, the vessel recorded near-surface temperature and salinity, as well as the horizontal flow from 20 m down to about 800 m. A total of 33 hydrographic stations were completed in a region off the Patagonian Shelf, within 41.2°S–35.9°S and out to 53.0°W. At each station, a multiparametric probe and velocity sensors were deployed inside the frame of a rosette used to collect water samples at selected depths; these samples were later used for several water analyses, including inorganic nutrient concentrations. Microstructure measurements were carried out in 11 of these hydrographic stations. In addition, two high-resolution three-dimensional surveys were conducted with an instrumented undulating vehicle between 40.6°S–39.0°S and 55.6°W–53.8°W. Lastly, eight high-frequency vertical profilers were deployed in the region and five position-transmitting drifters were launched. These data allow the description of the Confluence from the regional scale to the microscale, and provide a view of the variability of the frontal region on time scales from days to weeks, This research has been supported by the Spanish government (Ministerio de Economía and Competitividad through project VA-DE-RETRO, CTM2014-56987-P, and Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades through project SAGA, RTI2018‐100844‐BC33). Dorleta Orúe-Echevarría (FPU2013-02884) and Ignasi Vallés-Casanova (BES‐2015‐071314) have also been funded with PhD scholarships by the Spanish government (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades). Paola Castellanos has been partly supported by the Portuguese government (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through project COASTNET, PINFRA/22128/2016), With the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI)

Populated coastal ecosystems in the NW Mediterranean present three main characteristics that distinguish them from the open water ecosystem: a sea-land interaction, with freshwater influence from river mouths; a shallow seabed, which facilitates the interaction between the euphotic water column and the sediments; and high anthropogenic pressure, due to submarine sewage discharges. As a result, relatively high nutrient concentrations are measured in these ecosystems, with ammonia being an important fraction. These characteristics entail a different scenario from the open water ecosystem. Here, we present the distribution of phytoplankton primary production in the Barcelona coastal waters during summer and winter-spring seasons, by means of photosynthesis-irradiance experiments using the 14C technique. In winter-spring, stratification of the water column may begin earlier than in open water due to freshwater inputs. Therefore, with the water-column slightly stratified, chlorophyll-a and primary production become localised in the surface layers, due to the lower daily irradiance during this season. In these conditions, Total Primary Production (TPP) values measured ranged between 0.27 and 14.52 mgC m− 3 h− 1. As spring progresses and the stratification develops, surface waters tend to become nutrient depleted and nutrients are mainly localised in bottom waters between the thermocline and the seafloor. Under these conditions, high chlorophyll layers develop near the bottom. With the exception of their nutrient enrichment, these structures, referred to as coastal deep chlorophyll maxima, are comparable to the oceanic deep chlorophyll maxima in temperate oligotrophic seas. The nutrient enrichment is the result of the sediment resuspension from the seabed and the presence of sewage water discharged from the submarine outfall. These structures are highly productive (ca. 60% of water column primary production), comparable to the winter-spring bloom, and are sustained throughout the stratified season. In this period, TPP values measured ranged between 0.25 and 9.02 mgC m− 3 h− 1. The primary productivity structures studied play a leading role in processing nutrients from terrestrial sources, thus providing an important ecosystem service.

11 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, supplementary material https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2019.05.008, The link between phytoplankton primary production (PPP) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) has been demonstrated indirectly in the laboratory, but not directly in the sea. Here, for the first time, we report a strong link between PPP and CDOM in a study carried out in coastal marine waters around Barcelona (NW Mediterranean) in contrasting seasons. We measured relevant correlations between a CDOM concentration and both PPP (r = 0.89, p < 0.001, n = 16; r = 0.76, p < 0.01, n = 10; and r = 0.68, p < 0.001, n = 26; for summer, winter–spring and both seasons together, respectively) and the specific production rate at optimal light intensity (P ; r = 0.77, p < 0.001, n = 16; r = 0.86, p < 0.01, n = 10; and r = 0.85, p < 0.001, n = 26; for the same seasons). Based on our findings, we design a model that predicts PPP very well, using a CDOM, water temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)(R = 0.84, p < 0.001, n = 26). Relationships between CDOM concentration parameters (measured at wavelengths of 280, 300, 340, 355, 375, 412 and 460 nm) and variables associated to CDOM processes (chlorophyll-a, bacterial abundance, turbidity related to sediment resuspension and PAR) were also evaluated. Bacterial abundance is significantly correlated with CDOM concentration measured at higher wavelengths when all samples are considered (e.g., r = 0.82, p < 0.001, n = 26, for a CDOM). However, in seasonal data analysis, the correlations decrease slightly (summer season: e.g., r = 0.79, p < 0.001, n = 16, for a CDOM) or become non-significant (winter–spring season: e.g., r = -0.02, p = 0.95, n = 10, for a CDOM). Sunlight photobleaching and sediment resuspension processes significantly influence CDOM dynamics in the summer (for a CDOM: r = -0.72, p < 0.001, n = 16; and r = 0.67, p < 0.01, n = 16, respectively), This work was supported by the Catalan Water Agency (Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Generalitat de Catalunya) through its Monitoring and Control Program (PSIC) of Catalan coastal waters

14 pages, 10 figures, 7 tables, supplementary data http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.07.009, The dinoflagellate Karlodinium and the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia are bloom-forming genera frequently present in Alfacs Bay. Both microalgae are associated with toxic events. Therefore, understanding their population dynamics and predict their occurrence in short-term is crucial for an optimal management of toxic events for the local shellfish production and ecosystem managers. Artificial neural networks have been successfully used to model the complex nonlinear dynamics of phytoplankton. In this study, this approach was applied to predict absence-presence and abundance of Karlodinium and Pseudo-nitzschia microalgae in Alfacs Bay (NW Mediterranean) using biological and/or environmental variables. Neural Interpretation Diagram (NID) and Connection Weight Approach (CWA) methodologies were applied to obtain ecological information from the models. The dataset used was long-term (1990–2015) time series of environmental and phytoplankton variables from different monitoring stations established in Alfacs Bay (Ebre Delta), meteorological data and Ebre River flow rates. Several models were presented. The best ones were achieved for one-week ahead procedures performed with environmental and biological variables using all the available data. A sensitivity analysis showed the larger the data set used, the better the models obtained. However, Karlodinium absence-presence models developed with five years of data present high accuracy. The size of the neural networks denotes complex relationships between environmental and phytoplankton variables. The environmental variables had stronger influence on the abundance models while biological variables had more importance in the absence-presence models. These results highlight a complex ecosystem in Alfacs Bay involving anthropogenic, climatic and hydrologic factors forcing phytoplankton dynamics. In addition, a change in the ecosystem dynamics regarding Karlodinium is detected. The configuration and the accuracy achieved with the models allow their use in different real-world applications as automated systems and/or monitoring programs, This research, including CG contract, has been funded by the Economy and Competitiveness Ministry of Spain under the program INNPACTO 2011 (“PURGADEMAR” project; IPT-2011-1707-310000) and INIA (project PROMAQUA RTA2013-00096-00-00)

An expansion of the distribution of Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a dinoflagellate which produces palytoxin-like compounds, has been reported in recent years. Economical and social interests are affected by blooms, as they are responsible for respiratory and skin problems in humans and may cause damage to marine organisms. In order to identify the most influential environmental factors that trigger proliferations of O. cf. ovata in the area of the adjacent shallow rocky coast of the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean Sea) a three-year survey was performed on the metaphytic microalgae community growing on the macrophytes Jania rubens and Corallina elongata. Small-size diatoms were more abundant than dinoflagellates; O. cf. ovata was identified as the only species present from the genus. Seawater temperature was the primary driver defining the ecological niche of O. cf. ovata. Freshwater and groundwater fluxes were more pronounced in southern than in northern sites, which may have resulted in a distinct O. cf. ovata spatial distribution, with the highest records of abundance and more frequent blooms in the north. In consequence, negative correlations between the abundance of O. cf. ovata and nitrate concentrations and significant positive correlation with salinity were observed. The temporal pattern of O. cf. ovata dynamics from mid-July to early-November is probably due to the fact that this species is observed only above a certain threshold temperature of seawater. Metaphytic cells of O. cf. ovata were smaller in the northern site than in the south, possibly as a result of an increase in cell division, coinciding with higher abundance, and this could be an indicator of favorable conditions. Toxicity in planktonic cells was negatively correlated with cell abundance in the water column, achieving maximum concentrations of 25pg. PLTX eqcell(-1).