Nanoplankton and picoplankton in the Western English Channel: abundance and seasonality from 2007–2013

Tarran, GA and Bruun, JT 2015 Nanoplankton and picoplankton in the Western English Channel: abundance and seasonality from 2007–2013 [in special issue: UK Western Channel Observatory] Progress in Oceanography, 137 (Part B), PROOCE1578. 446-455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2015.04.024

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Abstract/Summary

The nano- and picoplankton community at Station L4 in the Western English Channel was studied between 2007 and 2013 by flow cytometry to quantify abundance and investigate seasonal cycles within these communities. Nanoplankton included both photosynthetic and heterotrophic eukaryotic single-celled organisms while the picoplankton included picoeukaryote phytoplankton, Synechococcus sp. cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria. A Box–Jenkins Transfer Function climatology analysis of surface data revealed that Synechococcus sp., cryptophytes, and heterotrophic flagellates had bimodal annual cycles. Nanoeukaryotes and both high and low nucleic acid-containing bacteria (HNA and LNA, respectively) groups exhibited unimodal annual cycles. Phaeocystis sp., whilst having clearly defined abundance maxima in spring was not detectable the rest of the year. Coccolithophores exhibited a weak seasonal cycle, with abundance peaks in spring and autumn. Picoeukaryotes did not exhibit a discernable seasonal cycle at the surface. Timings of maximum group abundance varied through the year. Phaeocystis sp. and heterotrophic flagellates peaked in April/May. Nanoeukaryotes and HNA bacteria peaked in June/July and had relatively high abundance throughout the summer. Synechococcus sp., cryptophytes and LNA bacteria all peaked from mid to late September. The transfer function model techniques used represent a useful means of identifying repeating annual cycles in time series data with the added ability to detect trends and harmonic terms at different time scales from months to decades.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Subjects:	Biology Ecology and Environment Marine Sciences
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > Western Channel Observatory
Depositing User:	Dr Glen Tarran
Date made live:	27 Jan 2016 12:12
Last Modified:	06 Jun 2017 16:14
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/6568

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