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Response of Phytoplankton Assemblages From Naturally Acidic Coastal Ecosystems to Elevated pCO2
- Source :
- Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 7 (2020), Frontiers in Marine Science, Frontiers in Marine Science, Frontiers Media, 2020, 7, pp.323. ⟨10.3389/fmars.2020.00323⟩
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Frontiers Media S.A., 2020.
-
Abstract
- International audience; The interplay of coastal oceanographic processes usually results in partial pressures of CO 2 (pCO 2) higher than expected from the equilibrium with the atmosphere and even higher than those expected by the end of the century. Although this is a well-known situation, the natural variability of seawater chemistry at the locations from which tested organisms or communities originate is seldom considered in ocean acidification experiments. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the role of the carbonate chemistry dynamics in shaping the response of coastal phytoplankton communities to increased pCO 2 levels. The study was conducted at two coastal ecosystems off Chile, the Valdivia River estuary and the coastal upwelling ecosystem in the Arauco Gulf. We characterized the seasonal variability (winter/summer) of the hydrographic conditions, the carbonate system parameters, and the phytoplankton community structure at both sites. The results showed that carbonate chemistry dynamics in the estuary were mainly related to seasonal changes in freshwater discharges, with acidic and corrosive conditions dominating in winter. In the Arauco Gulf, these conditions were observed in summer, mainly associated with the upwelling of cold and high pCO 2 (>1,000 µatm) waters. Diatoms dominated the phytoplankton communities at both sites, yet the one in Valdivia was more diverse. Only certain phytoplankton groups in this latter ecosystem showed a significant correlations with the carbonate system parameters. When the impact of elevated pCO 2 levels was investigated by pCO 2 manipulation experiments, we did not observe any significant effect on the biomass of either of the two communities. Changes in the phytoplankton species composition and abundance during the incubations were related to other factors, such as competition and growth phases. Our findings highlight the importance of the natural variability of coastal ecosystems and the potential for local adaptation in determining responses of coastal phytoplankton communities to increased pCO 2 levels.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
lcsh:QH1-199.5
Ocean Engineering
Aquatic Science
environmental variability
lcsh:General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
Oceanography
01 natural sciences
estuary
chemistry.chemical_compound
Phytoplankton
estuary Osma et al High-pCO 2
Ecosystem
14. Life underwater
coastal upwelling
lcsh:Science
[SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Water Science and Technology
Global and Planetary Change
Biomass (ecology)
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
010604 marine biology & hydrobiology
Community structure
carbonate chemistry
Ocean acidification
Estuary
15. Life on land
Effect on Coastal Phytoplankton
climate change
chemistry
13. Climate action
Carbonate
Upwelling
lcsh:Q
[SDV.EE.BIO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment/Bioclimatology
[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
community structure
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 22967745
- Volume :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Frontiers in Marine Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a3e8af6f16509ab01db435356cb5e468