Climate change enhances primary production in the western Antarctic Peninsula

Moreau, Sébastien; Mostajir, Behzad; Bélanger, Simon; Schloss, Irene R; Vancoppenolle, Martin; Demers, Serge; Ferreyra, Gustavo A.

doi:10.1111/gcb.12878

Cited by 70 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Similar results for annually integrated NPP in the WAP have recently been reported by Moreau et al . []. Years with more ice‐free days and higher ANCP display higher midsummer NCP (e.g., 2005 and 2006) (Figure ), suggesting that other factors (e.g., iron and light) preconditioned by or associated with the length of the growing season have ramifications throughout the growing season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interannual variability in net community production at the Western Antarctic Peninsula region (1997–2014)

Cassar

Huang

et al. 2016

JGR Oceans

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In this study, we examined the interannual variability of net community production (NCP) in the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) using in situ O2/Ar‐NCP estimates (2008–2014) and satellite data (SeaWiFS and MODIS‐Aqua) from 1997 to 2014. We found that NCP generally first peaks offshore and follows sea‐ice retreat from offshore to inshore. Annually integrated NCP (ANCP) displays an onshore‐to‐offshore gradient, with coastal and shelf regions up to 8 times more productive than offshore regions. We examined potential drivers of interannual variability in the ANCP using an Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis. The EOF's first mode explains ∼50% of the variance, with high interannual variability observed seaward of the shelf break. The first principal component is significantly correlated with the day of sea‐ice retreat (R = −0.58, p < 0.05), as well as the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate indices in austral spring. Although the most obvious pathway by which the day of sea‐ice retreat influences NCP is by controlling light availability early in the growing season, we found that the effect of day of sea‐ice retreat on NCP persists throughout the growing season, suggesting that additional controls, such as iron availability, are preconditioned or correlated to the day of sea‐ice retreat.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interannual variability in net community production at the Western Antarctic Peninsula region (1997–2014)

Cassar

Huang

et al. 2016

JGR Oceans

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“…Conversely, earlier retreat and delayed advance of sea ice has resulted in a 3 month lengthening of the summer ice-free season in the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas . While this extension of the ice-free period was expected to increase annual phytoplankton production and growth (Sarmiento et al, 2004;Moreau et al, 2015), no such trend has yet been observed Montes-Hugo et al, 2008). This may be due to constraints imposed by nutrient and light limitation that are also key drivers of phytoplankton growth in the SSIZ Westwood et al, 2010).…”

Section: Seasonal Sea Ice Zonementioning

confidence: 98%

“…Glacial melt has resulted in an influx of fresh water to coastal regions of the WAP, freshening and increasing the stratification of surface waters over the summer. While phytoplankton productivity is expected to increase with increasing sea surface temperature (Rose et al, 2009), the phytoplankton community is likely to be more affected by resultant changes in SIE and freshwater inputs to the CZ (Arrigo et al, 2015;Moreau et al, 2015).…”

Section: West Antarcticamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Phytoplankton productivity is enhanced through increased light, however, excessive light and elevated UV-A and UV-B exposure can lead to photoinhibition and cell damage (see SAZ above, Moreau et al, 2015). In order to limit the damage of these conditions, phytoplankton can channel metabolic reserves into photoprotection and tolerance mechanisms (Davidson, 2006).…”

Section: West Antarcticamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to limit the damage of these conditions, phytoplankton can channel metabolic reserves into photoprotection and tolerance mechanisms (Davidson, 2006). A lengthening of the open water season in the WAP, caused by earlier sea ice retreat (see SSIZ above), has increased productivity in the CZ, whilst also increasing photoinhibition rates (Moreau et al, 2015). Thus far, the increase in production is much greater than the loss due to photoinhibition so it is expected that increased stratification will lead to a net increase in primary productivity in the future (Moreau et al, 2015).…”

Section: West Antarcticamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Southern Ocean Phytoplankton in a Changing Climate

2017

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Phytoplankton are the base of the Antarctic food web, sustain the wealth and diversity of life for which Antarctica is renowned, and play a critical role in biogeochemical cycles that mediate global climate. Over the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean (SO), the climate is variously predicted to experience increased warming, strengthening wind, acidification, shallowing mixed layer depths, increased light (and UV), changes in upwelling and nutrient replenishment, declining sea ice, reduced salinity, and the southward migration of ocean fronts. These changes are expected to alter the structure and function of phytoplankton communities in the SO. The diverse environments contained within the vast expanse of the SO will be impacted differently by climate change; causing the identity and the magnitude of environmental factors driving biotic change to vary within and among bioregions. Predicting the net effect of multiple climate-induced stressors over a range of environments is complex. Yet understanding the response of SO phytoplankton to climate change is vital if we are to predict the future state/s of the ecosystem, estimate the impacts on fisheries and endangered species, and accurately predict the effects of physical and biotic change in the SO on global climate. This review looks at the major environmental factors that define the structure and function of phytoplankton communities in the SO, examines the forecast changes in the SO environment, predicts the likely effect of these changes on phytoplankton, and considers the ramifications for trophodynamics and feedbacks to global climate change. Predictions strongly suggest that all regions of the SO will experience changes in phytoplankton productivity and community composition with climate change. The nature, and even the sign, of these changes varies within and among regions and will depend upon the magnitude and sequence in which these environmental changes are imposed. It is likely that predicted changes to phytoplankton communities will affect SO biogeochemistry, carbon export, and nutrition for higher trophic levels.

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Quantifying phytoplankton productivity and photoinhibition in the Ross Sea Polynya with large eddy simulation of Langmuir circulation

et al. 2017

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Southern Ocean phytoplankton assemblages acclimated to low‐light environments that result from deep mixing are often sensitive to ultraviolet and high photosynthetically available radiation. In such assemblages, exposures to inhibitory irradiance near the surface result in loss of photosynthetic capacity that is not rapidly recovered and can depress photosynthesis after transport below depths penetrated by inhibitory irradiance. We used a coupled biophysical modeling approach to quantify the reduction in primary productivity due to photoinhibition based upon experiments and observations made during the spring bloom in Ross Sea Polynya (RSP). Large eddy simulation (LES) was used to generate depth trajectories representative of observed Langmuir circulation that were passed through an underwater light field to yield time series of spectral irradiance representative of what phytoplankton would have experienced in situ. These were used to drive an assemblage‐specific photosynthesis‐irradiance model with inhibition determined from a biological weighting function and repair rate estimated from shipboard experiments on the local assemblage. We estimate the daily depth‐integrated productivity was 230 mmol C m−2. This estimate includes a 6–7% reduction in daily depth‐integrated productivity over potential productivity (i.e., effects of photoinhibition excluded). When trajectory depths were fixed (no vertical transport), the reduction in productivity was nearly double. Relative to LES estimates, there was slightly less depth‐integrated photoinhibition with random walk trajectories and nearly twice as much with circular rotations. This suggests it is important to account for turbulence when simulating the effects of vertical mixing on photoinhibition due to the kinetics of photodamage and repair.

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Climate change enhances primary production in the western Antarctic Peninsula

Cited by 70 publications

References 82 publications

Interannual variability in net community production at the Western Antarctic Peninsula region (1997–2014)

Interannual variability in net community production at the Western Antarctic Peninsula region (1997–2014)

Southern Ocean Phytoplankton in a Changing Climate

Quantifying phytoplankton productivity and photoinhibition in the Ross Sea Polynya with large eddy simulation of Langmuir circulation

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