Climate‐induced effects on the meroplankton and the benthic‐pelagic ecology of the North Sea

Kirby, Richard R.; Beaugrand, Grégory; Lindley, J. A.

doi:10.4319/lo.2008.53.5.1805

Cited by 72 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…For instance, an early spring bloom in the Gulf of Maine may be detrimental to upper trophic levels, as zooplankton biomass in the Gulf of Maine has been observed to influence a variety of pelagic consumers such as fish and whales (Darbyson et al, 2003;Friedland et al, 2013;Heath and Lough, 2007;Pershing et al, 2009). However, the early blooms would be expected to provide increased energy flux to benthic resources such as benthic feeding fish and invertebrates (Kirby et al, 2008;Woodland and Secor, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring bloom dynamics and zooplankton biomass response on the US Northeast Continental Shelf

Friedland

Leaf

Kane

et al. 2015

Continental Shelf Research

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a b s t r a c tThe spring phytoplankton bloom on the US Northeast Continental Shelf is a feature of the ecosystem production cycle that varies annually in timing, spatial extent, and magnitude. To quantify this variability, we analyzed remotely-sensed ocean color data at two spatial scales, one based on ecologically defined sub-units of the ecosystem (production units) and the other on a regular grid (0.5°). Five units were defined: Gulf of Maine East and West, Georges Bank, and Middle Atlantic Bight North and South. The units averaged 47 Â 10 3 km 2 in size. The initiation and termination of the spring bloom were determined using change-point analysis with constraints on what was identified as a bloom based on climatological bloom patterns. A discrete spring bloom was detected in most years over much of the western Gulf of Maine production unit. However, bloom frequency declined in the eastern Gulf of Maine and transitioned to frequencies as low as 50% along the southern flank of the Georges Bank production unit. Detectable spring blooms were episodic in the Middle Atlantic Bight production units. In the western Gulf of Maine, bloom duration was inversely related to bloom start day; thus, early blooms tended to be longer lasting and larger magnitude blooms. We view this as a phenological mismatch between bloom timing and the "top-down" grazing pressure that terminates a bloom. Estimates of secondary production were available from plankton surveys that provided spring indices of zooplankton biovolume. Winter chlorophyll biomass had little effect on spring zooplankton biovolume, whereas spring chlorophyll biomass had mixed effects on biovolume. There was evidence of a "bottom up" response seen on Georges Bank where spring zooplankton biovolume was positively correlated with the concentration of chlorophyll. However, in the western Gulf of Maine, biovolume was uncorrelated with chlorophyll concentration, but was positively correlated with bloom start and negatively correlated with magnitude. This observation is consistent with both a "top-down" mechanism of control of the bloom and a "bottom-up" effect of bloom timing on zooplankton grazing. Our inability to form a consistent model of these relationships across adjacent systems underscores the need for further research.Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring bloom dynamics and zooplankton biomass response on the US Northeast Continental Shelf

Friedland

Leaf

Kane

et al. 2015

Continental Shelf Research

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“…Hunt et al 2002, Beaugrand 2004, and these changes have often been linked to climatic warming. Planktonic organisms are generally very sensitive to temperature variation (Hays et al 2005), and increasing temperature has been implicated as the main driver behind changes in their distribution (Richardson & Schoeman 2004), community composition , Kirby et al 2008) and phenology (Edwards & Richardson 2004). Bottom-up processes in pelagic ecosystems are driven by planktonic primary and secondary production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model

Frederiksen¹,

Elston²,

Edwards³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus is a key species in the North Sea ecosystem, transferring energy from planktonic producers to top predators. Previous studies have shown a longterm decline in the size of 0-group sandeels in the western North Sea, but they were unable to pinpoint the mechanism (later hatching, slower growth or changes in size-dependent mortality) or cause. To investigate the first 2 possibilities we combined 2 independent time series of sandeel size, namely data from chick-feeding Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica and from the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR), in a novel statistical model implemented using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). The model estimated annual mean length on 1 July, as well as hatching date and growth rate for sandeels from 1973 to 2006. Mean length-at-date declined by 22% over this period, corresponding to a 60% decrease in energy content, with a sharper decline since 2002. Up to the mid-1990s, the decline was associated with a trend towards later hatching. Subsequently, hatching became earlier again, and the continued trend towards smaller size appears to have been driven by lower growth rates, particularly in the most recent years, although we could not rule out changes in size-dependent mortality. Our findings point to major changes in key aspects of sandeel life history, which we consider are most likely due to direct and indirect temperature-related changes over a range of biotic factors, including the seasonal distribution of copepods and intra-and inter-specific competition with planktivorous fish. The results have implications both for the many predators of sandeels and for age and size of maturation in this aggregation of North Sea sandeels. KEY WORDS: Ammodytes marinus · Growth model · MCMC · North Sea · Phenology · SandeelResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher Mar Ecol Prog Ser 432: 137-147, 2011 138 dynamics and to impact higher trophic levels, and indeed have already been linked with fluctuations in both commercially exploited fish stocks , Castonguay et al. 2008 and reproductive performance of land-based predators (Frederiksen et al. 2006, Sydeman et al. 2006.The lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus (hereinafter sandeel) is a key species in the ecology of the North Sea and other parts of the NE Atlantic (Daan et al. 1990). It is generally the most abundant small planktivorous fish, and provides a critical trophic link between secondary producers (zooplankton, particularly calanoid copepods) and a wide variety of top predators, including larger fish, marine mammals and seabirds. Several studies have highlighted the critical importance of the availability and quality of sandeels for successful reproduction of North Sea seabirds (Monaghan 1992, Rindorf et al. 2000, Wanless et al. 2005. Sandeels are also the target of a major industrial fishery for fishmeal and fish oil (Furness 2002). However, evidence from several sources has indicated that conditions for sandeels in the North Sea are less favourable than...

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“…Abrupt community or ecosystem shifts (also called regime shifts or critical transitions) Scheffer 2009) have been documented Weijerman et al 2005), including changes in phytoplankton and zooplankton (e.g. copepods, euphausiids, gelatinous species) and in holozooplankton (taxa whose whole lifecycle is planktonic) and merozooplankton (taxa with a partly planktonic life history) (Kirby et al 2008). …”

Section: Planktonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Impacts—Marine Ecosystems

Brander

Ottersen

Bakker

et al. 2016

North Sea Region Climate Change Assessment

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This chapter presents a review of what is known about the impacts of climate change on the biota (plankton, benthos, fish, seabirds and marine mammals) of the North Sea. Examples show how the changing North Sea environment is affecting biological processes and organisation at all scales, including the physiology, reproduction, growth, survival, behaviour and transport of individuals; the distribution, dynamics and evolution of populations; and the trophic structure and coupling of ecosystems. These complex responses can be detected because there are detailed long-term biological and environmental records for the North Sea; written records go back 500 years and archaeological records many thousands of years. The information presented here shows that the composition and productivity of the North Sea marine ecosystem is clearly affected by climate change and that this will have consequences for sustainable levels of harvesting and other ecosystem services in the future. Multi-variate ocean climate indicators that can be used to monitor and warn of changes in composition and productivity are now being developed for the North Sea.

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Climate‐induced effects on the meroplankton and the benthic‐pelagic ecology of the North Sea

Cited by 72 publications

References 35 publications

Spring bloom dynamics and zooplankton biomass response on the US Northeast Continental Shelf

Spring bloom dynamics and zooplankton biomass response on the US Northeast Continental Shelf

Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model

Environmental Impacts—Marine Ecosystems

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