The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Phytoplankton community composition around the Crozet Plateau, with emphasis on diatoms and Phaeocystis

Phytoplankton community composition around the Crozet Plateau, with emphasis on diatoms and Phaeocystis
Phytoplankton community composition around the Crozet Plateau, with emphasis on diatoms and Phaeocystis
Phytoplankton community composition has important implications for upper-ocean biogeochemistry and export production. The species composition of the phytoplankton community (diatoms, Phaeocystis antarctica) was examined around the Crozet Plateau (Southern Ocean) during the CROZEX project in order to address spatial changes in species composition. Phytoplankton biomass was dominated by P. antarctica to the north of the Crozet Plateau, while south of the plateau a diverse community including several large diatom species (e.g., Corethron pennatum) occurred. The phytoplankton community in the vicinity of the Crozet Plateau and Crozet islands included a mixture of P. antarctica and Thalassionema nitzschioides. High numbers of empty diatom frustules characterised many of the sampling sites, with similar species present in the water column as both full and empty cells. Multivariate analysis was used to analyse both the level of similarity between the different sampling sites and the co-occurrence of species. Cluster analysis of the sampling sites showed distinct clusters that differed in terms of species composition and environmental parameters. Recurrent species analysis showed groupings which relate to phytoplankton cell size; groupings separated (i) small diatom species, (ii) medium and large diatom species as well as P. antarctica colonies, and (iii) giant diatoms. The abundance and distribution of the different floral groups identified by multivariate analysis are linked to the different environmental regimes, although the relationships are different for small and large species due to the interaction between factors important for phytoplankton growth (e.g., light, nutrients, iron) and mortality (e.g., grazing).
Diatoms, Phaeocystis antarctica, Thalassionema nitzschioides, Crozet Plateau
0967-0645
2085-2105
Poulton, A.J.
14bf64a7-d617-4913-b882-e8495543e717
Moore, C.M.
7ec80b7b-bedc-4dd5-8924-0f5d01927b12
Seeyave, S.
8099548d-0140-44b7-9a54-2c5ef473c821
Lucas, M.I.
1d860b0b-ec20-428d-afaa-0f5ca576e369
Fielding, S.
6fcd5a6f-5526-490c-a34f-506174caa3f8
Ward, P.
be8f5e51-8144-43cf-8c11-e0c7cf87b86c
Poulton, A.J.
14bf64a7-d617-4913-b882-e8495543e717
Moore, C.M.
7ec80b7b-bedc-4dd5-8924-0f5d01927b12
Seeyave, S.
8099548d-0140-44b7-9a54-2c5ef473c821
Lucas, M.I.
1d860b0b-ec20-428d-afaa-0f5ca576e369
Fielding, S.
6fcd5a6f-5526-490c-a34f-506174caa3f8
Ward, P.
be8f5e51-8144-43cf-8c11-e0c7cf87b86c

Poulton, A.J., Moore, C.M., Seeyave, S., Lucas, M.I., Fielding, S. and Ward, P. (2007) Phytoplankton community composition around the Crozet Plateau, with emphasis on diatoms and Phaeocystis. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 54 (18-20), 2085-2105. (doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.06.005).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Phytoplankton community composition has important implications for upper-ocean biogeochemistry and export production. The species composition of the phytoplankton community (diatoms, Phaeocystis antarctica) was examined around the Crozet Plateau (Southern Ocean) during the CROZEX project in order to address spatial changes in species composition. Phytoplankton biomass was dominated by P. antarctica to the north of the Crozet Plateau, while south of the plateau a diverse community including several large diatom species (e.g., Corethron pennatum) occurred. The phytoplankton community in the vicinity of the Crozet Plateau and Crozet islands included a mixture of P. antarctica and Thalassionema nitzschioides. High numbers of empty diatom frustules characterised many of the sampling sites, with similar species present in the water column as both full and empty cells. Multivariate analysis was used to analyse both the level of similarity between the different sampling sites and the co-occurrence of species. Cluster analysis of the sampling sites showed distinct clusters that differed in terms of species composition and environmental parameters. Recurrent species analysis showed groupings which relate to phytoplankton cell size; groupings separated (i) small diatom species, (ii) medium and large diatom species as well as P. antarctica colonies, and (iii) giant diatoms. The abundance and distribution of the different floral groups identified by multivariate analysis are linked to the different environmental regimes, although the relationships are different for small and large species due to the interaction between factors important for phytoplankton growth (e.g., light, nutrients, iron) and mortality (e.g., grazing).

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 2007
Keywords: Diatoms, Phaeocystis antarctica, Thalassionema nitzschioides, Crozet Plateau

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 49513
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/49513
ISSN: 0967-0645
PURE UUID: e7550440-7929-46b3-a640-484eddb81d74
ORCID for C.M. Moore: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9541-6046

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 12 Nov 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:10

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: A.J. Poulton
Author: C.M. Moore ORCID iD
Author: S. Seeyave
Author: M.I. Lucas
Author: S. Fielding
Author: P. Ward

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×