Interannual variability in lower trophic levels on the Alaskan Shelf

Batten, SD, Raitsos, DE, Danielson, S, Hopcroft, R, Coyle, K and McQuatters-Gollop, A 2018 Interannual variability in lower trophic levels on the Alaskan Shelf. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.04.023

Text (near acceptance version) LTL varibaility on the Alaskan shelf_revised.docx - Submitted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (2MB)

Abstract/Summary

This study describes results from the first 16 years of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) program that has sampled the lower trophic levels (restricted to larger, hard-shelled phytoplankton and robust zooplankton taxa) on the Alaskan shelf. Sampling took place along transects from the open ocean across the shelf (to the entrance to Prince William Sound from 2000 to 2003 and into Cook Inlet from 2004 to 2015) to provide plankton abundance data, spring through autumn of each year. We document interannual variability in concentration and composition of the plankton community of the region over this time period. At least in part and through correlative relationships, this can be attributed to changes in the physical environment, particularly direct and indirect effects of temperature. For example; spring mixed layer depth is shown to influence the timing of the spring diatom peak and warmer years are biased towards smaller copepod species. A significant positive relationship between temperature, diatom abundance and zooplankton biomass existed from 2000 to 2013 but was not present in the warm years of 2014 and 2015. These results suggest that anomalous warming events, such as the “heat wave” of 2014–2015, could fundamentally influence typical lower trophic level patterns, possibly altering trophic interactions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Subjects:	Earth Observation - Remote Sensing Ecology and Environment Oceanography
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > National Centre for Earth Observation Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Earth Observation Science and Applications
Depositing User:	Dr Dionysios Raitsos
Date made live:	28 Nov 2017 15:18
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2020 09:58
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7627

Actions (login required)

View Item