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Nitrogen uptake regime and phytoplankton community structure in the Atlantic and Indian sectors of the Southern Ocean
Semeneh, M.; Dehairs, F.A.; Elskens, M.; Baumann, M.E.M.; Kopczynska, E.E.; Lancelot, C.; Goeyens, L. (1998). Nitrogen uptake regime and phytoplankton community structure in the Atlantic and Indian sectors of the Southern Ocean. J. Mar. Syst. 17(1-4): 159-177. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(98)00036-0
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more
Also appears in:
Le Fèvre, J.; Tréguer, P. (Ed.) (1998). Carbon Fluxes and Dynamic Processes in the Southern Ocean: Present and Past. Selected papers from the International JGOFS Symposium, Brest, France, 28-31 August 1995. Journal of Marine Systems, 17(1-4). Elsevier: Amsterdam. 1-619 pp., more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton
    Chemical elements > Nonmetals > Atmospheric gases > Nitrogen
    Composition > Community composition
    Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle
    Environments > Aquatic environment > Pelagic environment
    Ice edge
    Population characteristics > Biomass
    Population characteristics > Population structure > Size distribution
    Topographic features > Submarine features > Continental shelves
    Uptake
    PS, Southern Ocean [Marine Regions]; PSE, Antarctic Ocean [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Semeneh, M.
  • Dehairs, F.A., more
  • Elskens, M., more
  • Baumann, M.E.M.
  • Kopczynska, E.E.
  • Lancelot, C., more
  • Goeyens, L., correspondent, more

Abstract
    Phytoplankton nitrogen uptake is studied in relation to the biomass and structure of phytoplankton community in the Atlantic and Indian sectors of the Southern Ocean. Two scenarios of seasonal evolution of uptake regime and phytoplankton community structure are described. The first scenario includes the Marginal Ice Zone areas of the Weddell Sea and adjacent areas where a predominantly nitrate based, diatom dominated assemblage, thriving in a stable water column at the beginning of the season was transformed into a mainly ammonium based, flagellate dominated assemblage, towards the end of the season. The change in phytoplankton community structure was caused by selective grazing by large grazers and reduced stability of the water column and the shift in uptake regime was due to increased ammonium availability and changes in community structure. In the second scenario, in the Coastal and Continental Shelf Zone (CCSZ) and Open Oceanic Zone (OOZ) of the Indian sector, a shift in uptake regime occurred without a big change in phytoplankton community structure. These areas were sampled late in the growth season and were characterized by prolonged water column stability, less grazing pressure on large diatoms and high ammonium availability. Diatoms dominated the assemblage and about 80% phytoplankton biomass was on the >10 µm size fraction. Unlike the first scenario, diatoms were largely based on ammonium. Thus, in areas of persistent water column stability and less selective grazing pressure, a shift in uptake regime can occur without change in community structure. The dominance of diatoms under regenerated production provides a physiological evidence for the excess net removal of silicate over nitrate occurring in certain provinces of the Southern Ocean.

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