IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page
Remote assessment of the fate of phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean sea-ice zone
Moreau, S.; Boyd, P.W.; Strutton, P.G. (2020). Remote assessment of the fate of phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean sea-ice zone. Nature Comm. 11(1): 9 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16931-0
In: Nature Communications. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2041-1723; e-ISSN 2041-1723, more
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
Authors  Top 
  • Moreau, S., more
  • Boyd, P.W.
  • Strutton, P.G.
Abstract
    In the Southern Ocean, large-scale phytoplankton blooms occur in open water and the sea-ice zone (SIZ). These blooms have a range of fates including physical advection, downward carbon export, or grazing. Here, we determine the magnitude, timing and spatial trends of the biogeochemical (export) and ecological (foodwebs) fates of phytoplankton, based on seven BGC-Argo floats spanning three years across the SIZ. We calculate loss terms using the production of chlorophyll—based on nitrate depletion—compared with measured chlorophyll. Export losses are estimated using conspicuous chlorophyll pulses at depth. By subtracting export losses, we calculate grazing-mediated losses. Herbivory accounts for ~90% of the annually-averaged losses (169 mg C m−2 d−1), and phytodetritus POC export comprises ~10%. Furthermore, export and grazing losses each exhibit distinctive seasonality captured by all floats spanning 60°S to 69°S. These similar trends reveal widespread patterns in phytoplankton fate throughout the Southern Ocean SIZ.
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors