The vertical distribution of phytoplankton in stratified water columns

Mellard, Jarad P.; Yoshiyama, Kohei; Litchman, Elena; Klausmeier, Christopher A.

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.09.041

Cited by 105 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…γ is the nitrogen content of the phytoplankton (mmol N per mg Chl). Following Mellard et al (2011), we consider the nitrogen input from the atmosphere at the rate of N in (z), setting it as a delta function at z = 0 with the total nutrient input in the surface mixed layer N inML ; N inML = z s 0 N in (z)dz, where z s is the depth of the surface mixed layer. Note that nitrogen input through the activity of nitrogen fixers is excluded.…”

Section: Dynamic Equationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The system of phytoplankton and the limiting nutrient on the vertical axis has often been utilized to study the depth, intensity and persistence of the SCML. Major theoretical results include photoacclimation (increase in chlorophyll per cell) (Steele, 1964;Fennel and Boss, 2003), bistability (Yoshiyama and Nakajima, 2002;Ryabov et al, 2010), oscillating SCM (Huisman et al, 2006), hysteresis conditions (Kiefer and Kremer, 1981;Navarro and Ruiz, 2013) and the ESS (evolutionary stable strategy) depth obtained by gametheory approach (Klausmeier and Litchman, 2001;Mellard et al, 2011). Recent mathematical studies solved the persistence and uniqueness of the steady-state solution (Du and Hsu, 2010;Hsu and Yuan, 2010;Du and Mei, 2011) and gave rigorous proofs for the abovementioned ESS depth and the game-theory approach (Du and Hsu, 2008a, b).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…In this model, the concentration of the limiting nutrient was found to be low and constant above the SCML and linearly increasing with depth below this layer in a poorly mixed water column. Building on that model, Mellard et al (2011) added stratification and surface nutrient input, which can make phytoplankton grow in both the surface mixed layer and deep layer (SCML) simultaneously. Fennel and Boss (2003) determined that the sum of nutrients and phytoplankton at steady state will increase monotonically below the surface mixed layer until it equals the fixed nutrient concentration.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Analytical solution of the nitracline with the evolution of subsurface chlorophyll maximum in stratified water columns

et al. 2017

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Abstract. In a stratified water column, the nitracline is a layer where the nitrate concentration increases below the nutrient-depleted upper layer, exhibiting a strong vertical gradient in the euphotic zone. The subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer (SCML) forms near the bottom of the euphotic zone, acting as a trap to diminish the upward nutrient supply. Depth and steepness of the nitracline are important measurable parameters related to the vertical transport of nitrate into the euphotic zone. The correlation between the SCML and the nitracline has been widely reported in the literature, but the analytic solution for the relationship between them is not well established. By incorporating a piecewise function for the approximate Gaussian vertical profile of chlorophyll, we derive analytical solutions of a specified nutrient-phytoplankton model. The model is well suited to explain basic dependencies between a nitracline and an SCML. The analytical solution shows that the nitracline depth is deeper than the depth of the SCML, shoaling with an increase in the light attenuation coefficient and with a decrease in surface light intensity. The inverse proportional relationship between the light level at the nitracline depth and the maximum rate of new primary production is derived. Analytic solutions also show that a thinner SCML corresponds to a steeper nitracline. The nitracline steepness is positively related to the light attenuation coefficient but independent of surface light intensity. The derived equations of the nitracline in relation to the SCML provide further insight into the important role of the nitracline in marine pelagic ecosystems.

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Section: Dynamic Equationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Analytical solution of the nitracline with the evolution of subsurface chlorophyll maximum in stratified water columns

et al. 2017

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“…Theory predicts that where the light niche is smaller (small E(Z) and large Z optic ), there should be greater overlap between phytoplankton because light will become the limiting factor and surface growth becomes the optimal strategy (Yoshiyama et al 2009). High nutrient levels also induce light-limitation through biomass proliferation and self-shading (turbidity), leading also to an optimal surface growth strategy (Weissing and Huisman 1994;Klausmeier and Litchman 2001;Huisman et al 2006), even when nutrient inputs occur at multiple depths (Mellard et al 2011). Thus, overall nutrient availability captured by variables such as total phosphorus (TP) should augment SO.…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatial overlap in lake phytoplankton: Relations with environmental factors and consequences for diversity

Beisner

Longhi

2013

Limnology & Oceanography

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Opposing gradients of light and nutrients can create a variety of niche opportunities for lake phytoplankton. Theory predicts that phytoplankton vertical distribution should be associated with these gradients as different taxa maximize resource access, while minimizing competitive interactions using niche partitioning. We examined the relationships between spatial overlap (SO) of four major phytoplankton spectral groups with key biogeochemical and morphometric environmental parameters across 52 north temperate lakes. SO decreased primarily with greater thermal stratification, and where more light was available and nutrient levels lower. When greater SO did occur in highly stratified lakes, taxonomic diversity was favored through increased species evenness, but not richness. Taxonomic richness, on the other hand, increased in lakes with greater light availability, coincident with low SO. Similarly, niche partitioning associated with greater functional diversity in the range of traits present in the communities was detected when SO was low in clear lakes. Overall, our results indicate that the ability of phytoplankton to spatially separate and utilize large portions of the water column is important for augmenting species and functional trait richness related to motility and resource acquisition. However, our study also suggests that community evenness is favored when phytoplankton distributions overlap in deep chlorophyll maxima associated with stratified lakes.

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“…Identification of patterns in phytoplankton biogeography or biodiversity requires analyses of large sample sets, because spatial heterogeneity of marine phytoplankton is considerable, while the vertical dimension is of particular importance, since differences in vertical abundance and composition of phytoplankton impact primary production, export processes, and energy transfer to higher trophic levels (Leibold, 1990). Vertical distribution of marine protists is determined by opposing resource gradients and mixing conditions (Mellard et al, 2011). With respect to this it was necessary to evaluate how representative samples from 10 m depth might be of the photic zone in the underlying water column.…”

Section: Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (Arisa)mentioning

confidence: 99%

High-resolution monitoring of marine protists based on an observation strategy integrating automated on-board filtration and molecular analyses

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Information on recent biomass distribution and biogeography of photosynthetic marine protists with adequate temporal and spatial resolution is urgently needed to better understand the consequences of environmental change for marine ecosystems. Here we introduce and review a molecular-based observation strategy for high-resolution assessment of these protists in space and time. It is the result of extensive technology developments, adaptations and evaluations which are documented in a number of different publications, and the results of the recently completed field testing which are introduced in this paper. The observation strategy is organized at four different levels. At level 1, samples are collected at high spatiotemporal resolution using the remotely controlled automated filtration system AUTOFIM. Resulting samples can either be preserved for later laboratory analyses, or directly subjected to molecular surveillance of key species aboard the ship via an automated biosensor system or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (level 2). Preserved samples are analyzed at the next observational levels in the laboratory (levels 3 and 4). At level 3 this involves molecular fingerprinting methods for a quick and reliable overview of differences in protist community composition. Finally, selected samples can be used to generate a detailed analysis of taxonomic protist composition via the latest next generation sequencing technology (NGS) at level 4. An overall integrated dataset of the results based on the different analyses provides comprehensive information on the diversity and biogeography of protists, including all related size classes. At the same time the cost of the observation is optimized with respect to analysis effort and time.

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The vertical distribution of phytoplankton in stratified water columns

Cited by 105 publications

References 70 publications

Analytical solution of the nitracline with the evolution of subsurface chlorophyll maximum in stratified water columns

Analytical solution of the nitracline with the evolution of subsurface chlorophyll maximum in stratified water columns

Spatial overlap in lake phytoplankton: Relations with environmental factors and consequences for diversity

High-resolution monitoring of marine protists based on an observation strategy integrating automated on-board filtration and molecular analyses

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