Shelf‐basin gradients shape ecological phytoplankton niches and community composition in the coastal Arctic Ocean (Beaufort Sea)

Ardyna, Mathieu; Babin, Marcel; Devred, Émmanuel; Forest, Alexandre; Gosselin, Michel; Raimbault, Patrick; Tremblay, Jean‐Éric

doi:10.1002/lno.10554

Cited by 54 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“…Even though they were not highly productive at the time of sampling, as estimated from the contribution of large cells (> 5 μm) to total primary production, their high abundance in early October suggests the occurrence of a fall bloom, prior to our sampling. Enhanced nutrient consumption by phytoplankton following upwellings, as shown by Ardyna et al (), likely occurred prior to our field sampling in 2010 and explains the relatively low nutrient concentrations in Z m measured at our sampling stations (Table ). Indeed, if sufficient light is available for primary production when surface waters are replenished with nutrients, a fall bloom can occur; this was likely the case in 2010 and 2011 (Fig.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 58%

“…following upwellings, as shown by Ardyna et al (2017), likely occurred prior to our field sampling in 2010 and explains the relatively low nutrient concentrations in Z m measured at our sampling stations (Table 2). Indeed, if sufficient light is available for primary production when surface waters are replenished with nutrients, a fall bloom can occur; this was likely the case in 2010 and 2011 (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 70%

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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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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 58%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 70%

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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“…However, these ongoing poleward shifts observed in the inflow shelves cannot be translated to “interior” (i.e., Beaufort and Russian seas) and “outflow shelves” (i.e., Baffin Bay, Canadian Archipelago, East Greenland shelf…), due to their entirely different functional type [ Carmack and Wassmann ; Michel et al ]. 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: 98%

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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“…Nitrogen is likely the limiting nutrient in the Canada Basin (Ardyna et al, ; Codispoti et al, ; Varela et al, ). However, nitrate levels were undetectable (<0.05 mmol/m 3 ) in almost all surface samples and thus all analysis presented here is of phosphate and silicate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations in Rates of Biological Production in the Beaufort Gyre as the Arctic Changes: Rates From 2011 to 2016

Sandwith

Williams

et al. 2019

JGR Oceans

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The Arctic Ocean is experiencing profound environmental changes as the climate warms. Understanding how these changes will affect Arctic biological productivity is key for predicting future Arctic ecosystems and the global CO2 balance. Here we use in situ gas measurements to quantify rates of gross oxygen production (GOP, total photosynthesis) and net community production (NCP, net CO2 drawdown by the biological pump) in the mixed layer in summer or fall from 2011 to 2016 in the Beaufort Gyre. NCP and GOP show spatial and temporal variations with higher values linked with lower concentrations of sea ice and increased upper ocean stratification. Mean rates of GOP range from 8 ± 1 to 54 ± 9 mmol O2·m−2·d−1 with the highest mean rates occurring in summer of 2012. Mean rates of NCP ranged from 1.3 ± 0.2 to 2.9 ± 0.5 mmol O2·m−2·d−1. The mean ratio of NCP/GOP, a measure of how efficiently the ecosystem is recycling its nutrients, ranged from 0.04 to 0.17, similar to ratios observed at lower latitudes. Additionally, a large increase in total photosynthesis that occurred in 2012, a year of historically low sea ice coverage, persisted for many years. Taken together, these data provide one of the most complete characterizations of interannual variations of biological productivity in this climatically important region, can serve as a baseline for future changes in rates of production, and give an intriguing glimpse of how this region of the Arctic may respond to future lack of sea ice.

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Shelf‐basin gradients shape ecological phytoplankton niches and community composition in the coastal Arctic Ocean (Beaufort Sea)

Cited by 54 publications

References 98 publications

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

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

Variations in Rates of Biological Production in the Beaufort Gyre as the Arctic Changes: Rates From 2011 to 2016

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