Influence of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation on phytoplankton phenology and community structure in the western North Pacific

Chiba, S, Batten, SD, Sasaoka, K, Sasai, Y and Sugisaki, H 2012 Influence of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation on phytoplankton phenology and community structure in the western North Pacific. Geophysical Research Letters, 39 (15). L15603.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2012GL052912

Abstract/Summary

Phytoplankton phenology and community structure in the western North Pacific were investigated for 2001–2009, based on satellite ocean colour data and the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey. We estimated the timing of the spring bloom based on the cumulative sum satellite chlorophyll adata, and found that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)-related interannual SST anomaly in spring significantly affected phytoplankton phenology. The bloom occurred either later or earlier in years of positive or negative PDO (indicating cold and warm conditions, respectively). Phytoplankton composition in the early summer varied depending on the magnitude of seasonal SST increases, rather than the SST value itself. Interannual variations in diatom abundance and the relative abundance of non-diatoms were positively correlated with SST increases for March–April and May–July, respectively, suggesting that mixed layer environmental factors, such as light availability and nutrient stoichiometry, determine shifts in phytoplankton community structure. Our study emphasised the importance of the interannual variation in climate-induced warm–cool cycles as one of the key mechanisms linking climatic forcing and lower trophic level ecosystems.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Additional Keywords: CPR PDO phenology phytoplankton Climate and interannual variability Ocean observing systems Ecosystems, structure, dynamics, and modeling Phytoplankton Pacific Ocean
Depositing User: Miss Gemma Brice
Date made live: 26 Mar 2014 14:09
Last Modified: 06 Mar 2017 17:56
URI: https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/5701

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