Changes in phytoplankton bloom phenology over the North Water (NOW) polynya: a response to changing environmental conditions

Marchese, Christian; Albouy, Camille; Tremblay, Jean‐Éric; Dumont, Dany; D’Ortenzio, Fabrizio; Vissault, Steve; Bélanger, Simon

doi:10.1007/s00300-017-2095-2

Cited by 60 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…In contrast, the period 1997–2001 was as productive as the present conditions. A detailed study of the sea ice and phytoplankton phenology as in Marchese et al () could confirm the long‐term drivers of primary productivity in the three polynyas described in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Sea Ice Meltwater and Circumpolar Deep Water Drive Contrasting Productivity in Three Antarctic Polynyas

et al. 2019

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In the Southern Ocean, polynyas exhibit enhanced rates of primary productivity and represent large seasonal sinks for atmospheric CO2. Three contrasting east Antarctic polynyas were visited in late December to early January 2017: the Dalton, Mertz, and Ninnis polynyas. In the Mertz and Ninnis polynyas, phytoplankton biomass (average of 322 and 354 mg chlorophyll a (Chl a)/m2, respectively) and net community production (5.3 and 4.6 mol C/m2, respectively) were approximately 3 times those measured in the Dalton polynya (average of 122 mg Chl a/m2 and 1.8 mol C/m2). Phytoplankton communities also differed between the polynyas. Diatoms were thriving in the Mertz and Ninnis polynyas but not in the Dalton polynya, where Phaeocystis antarctica dominated. These strong regional differences were explored using physiological, biological, and physical parameters. The most likely drivers of the observed higher productivity in the Mertz and Ninnis were the relatively shallow inflow of iron‐rich modified Circumpolar Deep Water onto the shelf as well as a very large sea ice meltwater contribution. The productivity contrast between the three polynyas could not be explained by (1) the input of glacial meltwater, (2) the presence of Ice Shelf Water, or (3) stratification of the mixed layer. Our results show that physical drivers regulate the productivity of polynyas, suggesting that the response of biological productivity and carbon export to future change will vary among polynyas.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Sea Ice Meltwater and Circumpolar Deep Water Drive Contrasting Productivity in Three Antarctic Polynyas

et al. 2019

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“…In northern Baffin Bay, sea‐surface warming and sea‐ice changes altered spring bloom phenology (Marchese et al ) and likely the nutrient distribution for the entire productive period. Our study showed that these changes combined with reduced near‐surface irradiance and increased stratification did not allow the diatom‐dominated assemblages to persist throughout fall, and the fall bloom did not occur in 2010–2011.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this latter study reported that some of the most productive Arctic regions, such as the North Water Polynya (NOW, northern Baffin Bay), have seen their productivity decrease dramatically over the last decade. More recently, Marchese et al () showed a decrease in phytoplankton bloom amplitude over the 1998–2014 period. Numerical models of the Arctic Ocean still lack validation with in situ time series and rely mainly on the assimilation of satellite observations (Forest et al ; Dupont ; Babin et al ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

Contrasting interannual changes in phytoplankton productivity and community structure in the coastal Canadian Arctic Ocean

Blais

Ardyna

Gosselin

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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The rapid physical changes affecting the Arctic Ocean alter the growth conditions of primary producers. In this context, a crucial question is whether these changes will affect the composition of phytoplankton communities, augment their productivity, and eventually enhance food webs. We combined satellite and model products with in situ datasets collected during fall and provide new insights into the response of phytoplankton biomass and production in the Canadian Arctic by comparing an interior shelf (Beaufort Sea) and an outflow shelf (Baffin Bay). Correlation analysis was used to distinguish between seasonal and interannual variability and revealed that most biological variables are responding to the interannual pressures of climate change. In southeast Beaufort Sea, a change in phytoplankton community composition occurred, with a significant increase in diatoms from 2% (2002) to 37% (2010-2011) of the total protist abundance. In 2011, photosynthetic picoeukaryotes were twice as abundant as in 2002. For these two phytoplankton groups, abundance was correlated with the duration of the open-water period, which also increased and affected vertical stratification and sea-surface temperature. In contrast, there was a sharp decline in centric diatom abundance as well as in phytoplankton biomass and production in northern Baffin Bay over the years considered. These decreases were linked to changes in seasonal progression and sea-ice dynamics through their impacts on vertical stratification and freshwater input. Overall, our results highlight the importance of stratification and the duration of the open-water period in shaping phytoplankton regimes-either oligotrophic or eutrophic-in marine waters of the Canadian Arctic.

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“…In the less sea‐ice‐covered interior shelves, stronger atmosphere‐ocean interactions promote the existence of coastal hotspots of high phytoplankton productivity crucial for supporting marine ecosystems [ Tremblay et al ., ; Ardyna et al ., ; Blais et al ., ]. On the contrary, outflow shelves (e.g., Baffin Bay) seem to experience drastic decrease in phytoplankton biomass and productivity [ Bergeron and Tremblay , ; Blais et al ., ], and in the bloom magnitude [ Marchese et al ., ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role for Atlantic inflows and sea ice loss on shifting phytoplankton blooms in the Barents Sea

et al. 2017

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Phytoplankton blooms in the Barents Sea are highly sensitive to seasonal and interannual changes in sea ice extent, water mass distribution, and oceanic fronts. With the ongoing increase of Atlantic Water inflows, we expect an impact on these blooms. Here, we use a state‐of‐the‐art collection of in situ hydrogeochemical data for the period 1998–2014, which includes ocean color satellite‐derived proxies for the biomass of calcifying and noncalcifying phytoplankton. Over the last 17 years, sea ice extent anomalies were evidenced having direct consequences for the spatial extent of spring blooms in the Barents Sea. In years of minimal sea ice extent, two spatially distinct blooms were clearly observed: one along the ice edge and another in ice‐free water. These blooms are thought to be triggered by different stratification mechanisms: heating of the surface layers in ice‐free waters and melting of the sea ice along the ice edge. In years of maximal sea ice extent, no such spatial delimitation was observed. The spring bloom generally ended in June when nutrients in the surface layer were depleted. This was followed by a stratified and oligotrophic summer period. A coccolithophore bloom generally developed in August, but was confined only to Atlantic Waters. In these same waters, a late summer bloom of noncalcifying algae was observed in September, triggered by enhanced mixing, which replenishes surface waters with nutrients. Altogether, the 17 year time‐series revealed a northward and eastward shift of the spring and summer phytoplankton blooms.

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Changes in phytoplankton bloom phenology over the North Water (NOW) polynya: a response to changing environmental conditions

Cited by 60 publications

References 94 publications

Sea Ice Meltwater and Circumpolar Deep Water Drive Contrasting Productivity in Three Antarctic Polynyas

Sea Ice Meltwater and Circumpolar Deep Water Drive Contrasting Productivity in Three Antarctic Polynyas

Contrasting interannual changes in phytoplankton productivity and community structure in the coastal Canadian Arctic Ocean

Role for Atlantic inflows and sea ice loss on shifting phytoplankton blooms in the Barents Sea

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