Phytoplankton change in the North Atlantic

Reid, Philip C.; Edwards, Martin; Hunt, Harold; Warner, Andrew J.

doi:10.1038/35290

Cited by 289 publications

(185 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The smooth biological RS in 1988/1989 significantly altered the macrofaunal community structure and was associated with rising SST, an NAO+ pattern and increased storm frequency. These factors also enhanced primary production in coastal North Sea regions and plankton blooms occurred earlier in the year (Reid et al, 1998). During this period, both native warm-temperate species and other bivalve species seemed to benefit from the SST-related increase in primary production and from the availability of food in the southern North Sea (Kröncke et al, 2013).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Loss of persistence of the North Atlantic Oscillation and its biological implication

2014

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Loss of persistence of the North Atlantic Oscillation and its biological implication

2014

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“…This is reflected in a positive NAOI since the late 1980s. The NAO influences weather phenomena in NW Europe such as precipitation, sea surface temperature, direction and flow of currents and stability of the water column (Hurrell 1995;Planque and Taylor 1998;Reid et al 1998). In the North Sea A. filiformis is mainly restricted to deeper regions with a stratified water column in summer ).…”

Section: Community Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Cold winter effects on benthic macrofauna communities in near- and offshore regions of the North Sea

2006

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In order to investigate the effect of severe winters on the long-term variability of benthic macrofauna communities four stations from the inner German Bight towards the Dogger Bank (North Sea) were sampled in March 1990 and from May 1995 to 2002. The stations were chosen to reflect a gradient in the hydrographic regime, temperature and organic matter supply. We initially hypothesized that the effect of severe winters on benthic communities will be more pronounced in the offshore more stable environment than in the nearshore regions. Our results clearly showed the opposite pattern. The benthic communities at the nearshore stations in the German Bight changed dramatically in species abundance and community structure after the severe winter 1995/1996. But the community structure in the German Bight returned to the previous stage within 2 years. In contrast, the offshore stations in the Oyster Ground and at the Dogger Bank remained rather unaffected by the severe winter and changed gradually during the study period. The results are discussed concerning the ecological importance of severe winters for benthic communities and the utility of our results for interpreting long-term changes.

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“…The timing and characteristics of seasonal peaks are a major indicator of the functioning of marine pelagic ecosystems (Platt & Sathyendranath, 2008;Racault et al, 2012). In land, both the phenology of vegetation and migratory species have been altered by recent climate change (Peñuelas & Filella, 2001;Parmesan, 2007;Sletzer & Post, 2009), while the sea analyses based on long-term field sampling programmes have shown consistent changes both in the phenology and biomass of marine plankton (Reid et al, 1998;Edwards et al, 2001;Edwards & Richardson, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonality of North Atlantic phytoplankton from space: impact of environmental forcing on a changing phenology (1998–2012)

Taboada

Anadón

2014

Global Change Biology

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Seasonal pulses of phytoplankton drive seasonal cycles of carbon fixation and particle sedimentation, and might condition recruitment success in many exploited species. Taking advantage of long-term series of remotely sensed chlorophyll a (1998-2012), we analysed changes in phytoplankton seasonality in the North Atlantic Ocean. Phytoplankton phenology was analysed based on a probabilistic characterization of bloom incidence. This approach allowed us to detect changes in the prevalence of different seasonal cycles and, at the same time, to estimate bloom timing and magnitude taking into account uncertainty in bloom detection. Deviations between different sensors stressed the importance of a prolonged overlap between successive missions to ensure a correct assessment of phenological changes, as well as the advantage of semi-analytical chlorophyll algorithms over empirical ones to reduce biases. Earlier and more intense blooms were detected in the subpolar Atlantic, while advanced blooms of less magnitude were common in the Subtropical gyre. In the temperate North Atlantic, spring blooms advanced their timing and decreased in magnitude, whereas fall blooms delayed and increased their intensity. At the same time, the prevalence of locations with a single autumn/winter bloom or with a bimodal seasonal cycle increased, in consonance with a poleward expansion of subtropical conditions. Changes in bloom timing and magnitude presented a clear signature of environmental factors, especially wind forcing, although changes on incident photosynthetically active radiation and sea surface temperature were also important depending on latitude. Trends in bloom magnitude matched changes in mean chlorophyll a during the study period, suggesting that seasonal peaks drive long-term trends in chlorophyll a concentration. Our results link changes in North Atlantic climate with recent trends in the phenology of phytoplankton, suggesting an intensification of these impacts in the near future.

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Phytoplankton change in the North Atlantic

Cited by 289 publications

References 2 publications

Loss of persistence of the North Atlantic Oscillation and its biological implication

Loss of persistence of the North Atlantic Oscillation and its biological implication

Cold winter effects on benthic macrofauna communities in near- and offshore regions of the North Sea

Seasonality of North Atlantic phytoplankton from space: impact of environmental forcing on a changing phenology (1998–2012)

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