The influence of environmental variability on the biogeography of coccolithophores and diatoms in the Great Calcite Belt

Smith, Helen E.K.; Poulton, Alex J.; Garley, Rebecca; Hopkins, Jason; Lubelczyk, Laura C.; Drapeau, Dave T.; Rauschenberg, Sara; Twining, Ben S.; Bates, Nicholas R.; Balch, William M.. 2017 The influence of environmental variability on the biogeography of coccolithophores and diatoms in the Great Calcite Belt. Biogeosciences, 14. 4905-4925. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-110

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text (Open Access paper)
bg-14-4905-2017.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
Download (6MB) | Preview

Preview

Text (Discussion paper)
bg-2017-110.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
Download (3MB) | Preview

Preview

Text (Discussion paper - Supplement)
bg-2017-110-supplement.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
Download (130kB) | Preview

Text
Smith et al 2017 GCB biogeography.pdf - Accepted Version
Restricted to NORA staff only
Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract/Summary

The Great Calcite Belt (GCB) of the Southern Ocean is a region of elevated summertime upper ocean calcite concentration derived from coccolithophores, despite the region being known for its diatom predominance. The overlap of two major phytoplankton groups, coccolithophores and diatoms, in the dynamic frontal systems characteristic of this region, provides an ideal setting to study environmental influences on the distribution of different species within these taxonomic groups. Water samples for phytoplankton enumeration were collected from the upper 30 m during two cruises, the first to the South Atlantic sector (Jan–Feb 2011; 60 °W–15 °E and 36–60 °S) and the second in the South Indian sector (Feb–Mar 2012; 40–120 °E and 36–60 °S). The species composition of coccolithophores and diatoms was examined using scanning electron microscopy at 27 stations across the Sub-Tropical, Polar, and Sub-Antarctic Fronts. The influence of environmental parameters, such as sea-surface temperature (SST), salinity, carbonate chemistry (i.e., pH, partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon), macro-nutrients (i.e., nitrate + nitrite, phosphate, silicic acid, ammonia), and mixed layer average irradiance, on species composition across the GCB, was assessed statistically. Nanophytoplankton (cells 2–20 μm) were the numerically abundant size group of biomineralizing phytoplankton across the GCB, the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi and the diatoms Fragilariopsis nana, F. pseudonana and Pseudonitzschia sp. were the most dominant and widely distributed species. A combination of SST, macro-nutrient concentrations and pCO2 were the best statistical descriptors of biogeographic variability of biomineralizing species composition between stations. Emiliania huxleyi occurred in the silicic acid-depleted waters between the Sub-Antarctic Front and the Polar Front, indicating a favorable environment for this coccolithophore in the GCB after spring diatom blooms remove silicic acid to limiting levels. After full consideration of variability in carbonate chemistry and temperature on the distribution of nanoplankton in the GCB, we find that temperature remains the dominant driver of biogeography in a large proportion of the modern Southern Ocean.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-110
ISSN:	1726-4170
Date made live:	04 May 2017 14:12 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516683

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-110

ISSN:

1726-4170

Date made live:

04 May 2017 14:12 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516683