scholarly journals Spring phytoplankton communities of the Labrador Sea (2005–2014): pigment signatures, photophysiology and elemental ratios

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1235-1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glaucia M. Fragoso ◽  
Alex J. Poulton ◽  
Igor M. Yashayaev ◽  
Erica J. H. Head ◽  
Duncan A. Purdie
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
High Light ◽  
Labrador Sea ◽  
Total Chlorophyll ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Mixed Layers ◽  
Phytoplankton Group

Abstract. The Labrador Sea is an ideal region to study the biogeographical, physiological, and biogeochemical implications of phytoplankton community composition due to sharp transitions between distinct water masses across its shelves and central basin. We have investigated the multi-year (2005–2014) distributions of late spring and early summer (May to June) phytoplankton communities in the various hydrographic settings of the Labrador Sea. Our analysis is based on pigment markers (using CHEMTAX analysis), and photophysiological and biogeochemical characteristics associated with each phytoplankton community. Diatoms were the most abundant group, blooming first in shallow mixed layers of haline-stratified Arctic shelf waters. Along with diatoms, chlorophytes co-dominated at the western end of the section (particularly in the polar waters of the Labrador Current (LC)), whilst Phaeocystis co-dominated in the east (modified polar waters of the West Greenland Current (WGC)). Pre-bloom conditions occurred in deeper mixed layers of the central Labrador Sea in May, where a mixed assemblage of flagellates (dinoflagellates, prasinophytes, prymnesiophytes, particularly coccolithophores, and chrysophytes/pelagophytes) occurred in low-chlorophyll areas, succeeding to blooms of diatoms and dinoflagellates in thermally stratified Atlantic waters in June. Light-saturated photosynthetic rates and saturation irradiance levels were highest at stations where diatoms were the dominant phytoplankton group ( >  70 % of total chlorophyll a), as opposed to stations where flagellates were more abundant (from 40 up to 70 % of total chlorophyll a). Phytoplankton communities from the WGC (Phaeocystis and diatoms) had lower light-limited photosynthetic rates, with little evidence of photoinhibition, indicating greater tolerance to a high light environment. By contrast, communities from the central Labrador Sea (dinoflagellates and diatoms), which bloomed later in the season (June), appeared to be more sensitive to high light levels. Ratios of accessory pigments (AP) to total chlorophyll a (TChl a) varied according to phytoplankton community composition, with polar phytoplankton (cold-water related) having lower AP  :  TChl a. Polar waters (LC and WGC) also had higher and more variable particulate organic carbon (POC) to particulate organic nitrogen (PON) ratios, suggesting the influence of detritus from freshwater input, derived from riverine, glacial, and/or sea ice meltwater. Long-term observational shifts in phytoplankton communities were not assessed in this study due to the short temporal frame (May to June) of the data. Nevertheless, these results add to our current understanding of phytoplankton group distribution, as well as an evaluation of the biogeochemical role (in terms of C  :  N ratios) of spring phytoplankton communities in the Labrador Sea, which will assist our understanding of potential long-term responses of phytoplankton communities in high-latitude oceans to a changing climate.

scholarly journals Spring phytoplankton communities of the Labrador Sea (2005–2014): pigment signatures, photophysiology and elemental ratios

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glaucia M. Fragoso ◽  
Alex J. Poulton ◽  
Igor M. Yashayaev ◽  
Erica J. H. Head ◽  
Duncan A. Purdie
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Vertical Mixing ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
High Light ◽  
Labrador Sea ◽  
Central Basin ◽  
Photosynthetic Rates ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Mixed Layers

Abstract. The Labrador Sea is an ideal region to study the biogeographical, physiological and biogeochemical implications of phytoplankton communities due to sharp transitions of distinct water masses across its shelves and the central basin, intense nutrient delivery due to deep vertical mixing during winters and continual inflow of Arctic, Greenland melt and Atlantic waters. In this study, we provide a decadal assessment (2005–2014) of late spring/early summer phytoplankton communities from surface waters of the Labrador Sea based on pigment markers and CHEMTAX analysis, and their physiological and biogeochemical signatures. Diatoms were the most abundant group, blooming first in shallow mixed layers of haline-stratified Arctic shelf waters. Along with diatoms, chlorophytes co-dominated at the western end of the section (particularly in the polar waters of the Labrador Current (LC)), whilst Phaeocystis co-dominated in the east (modified polar waters of the West Greenland Current (WGC)). Pre-bloom conditions occurred in deeper mixed layers of the central Labrador Sea in May, where a mixed assemblage of flagellates (dinoflagellates, prasinophytes, prymnesiophytes, particularly coccolithophores, and chrysophytes/pelagophytes) occurred in low chlorophyll areas, succeeding to blooms of diatoms and dinoflagellates in thermally-stratified Atlantic waters in June. Light-saturated photosynthetic rates and saturation irradiance levels were higher at stations where diatoms were the dominant phytoplankton group (> 70 %), as opposed to stations where flagellates were more abundant (from 40 % up to 70 %). Phytoplankton communities from the WGC (Phaeocystis and diatoms) had lower light-limited photosynthetic rates, with little evidence of photo-inhibition, indicating greater tolerance to a high light environment. By contrast, communities from the central Labrador Sea (dinoflagellates and diatoms), which bloomed later in the season (June), appeared to be more sensitive to high light levels. Ratios of accessory pigments (AP) to total chlorophyll a (TChl a) varied according to phytoplankton community composition, with polar phytoplankton (cold-water related) having lower AP to TChl a ratios. Phytoplankton communities associated with polar waters (LC and WGC) also had higher and more variable particulate organic carbon (POC) to particulate organic nitrogen (PON) ratios, suggesting the influence of detritus from freshwater input, derived from riverine, glacial and/or sea-ice meltwater. Long-term observational shifts in phytoplankton communities were not assessed in this study due to the short temporal frame (May to June) of the data. Nevertheless, these results have provided a baseline of current distributions and an evaluation of the biogeochemical role of spring phytoplankton communities in the Labrador Sea, which will improve our understanding of potential long-term responses of phytoplankton communities in high-latitude oceans to a changing climate.

Differences between Nearshore and Offshore Phytoplankton Communities in Lake Ontario

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 2155-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. M. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Eutrophic Species

Differences between nearshore and offshore phytoplankton biomass and composition were evident in Lake Ontario in 1982. Phytoplankton biomass was characterized by multiple peaks which ranged over three orders of magnitude. Perhaps as a consequence of the three times higher current velocities at the northshore station, phytoplankton biomass ranged from 0.09 to 9.00 g∙m−3 compared with 0.10 to 2.40 g∙m−3 for the midlake station. Bacillariophyceae was the dominant group at the northshore station until September when Cyanophyta contributed most to the biomass (83%). Although Bacillariophyceae was the principal component of the spring phytoplankton community at the midlake station, phytoflagellates (49%) and Chlorophyceae (25%) were responsible for summer biomass, with the Chlorophyceae expanding to 80% in the fall. The seasonal pattern of epilimnetic chlorophyll a correlated with temperature. While chlorophyll a concentrations were similar to values from 1970 and 1972, algal biomass had declined and a number of eutrophic species (Melosira binderana, Stephanodiscus tenuis, S. hantzschii var. pusilla, and S. alpinus) previously found were absent in 1982.

scholarly journals Estimation of the Particulate Organic Carbon to Chlorophyll-a Ratio Using MODIS-Aqua in the East/Japan Sea, South Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dabin Lee ◽  
SeungHyun Son ◽  
HuiTae Joo ◽  
Kwanwoo Kim ◽  
Myung Joon Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Particulate Organic Carbon ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Seasonal Variability ◽  
Japan Sea ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities

In recent years, the change of marine environment due to climate change and declining primary productivity have been big concerns in the East/Japan Sea, Korea. However, the main causes for the recent changes are still not revealed clearly. The particulate organic carbon (POC) to chlorophyll-a (chl-a) ratio (POC:chl-a) could be a useful indicator for ecological and physiological conditions of phytoplankton communities and thus help us to understand the recent reduction of primary productivity in the East/Japan Sea. To derive the POC in the East/Japan Sea from a satellite dataset, the new regional POC algorithm was empirically derived with in-situ measured POC concentrations. A strong positive linear relationship (R2 = 0.6579) was observed between the estimated and in-situ measured POC concentrations. Our new POC algorithm proved a better performance in the East/Japan Sea compared to the previous one for the global ocean. Based on the new algorithm, long-term POC:chl-a ratios were obtained in the entire East/Japan Sea from 2003 to 2018. The POC:chl-a showed a strong seasonal variability in the East/Japan Sea. The spring and fall blooms of phytoplankton mainly driven by the growth of large diatoms seem to be a major factor for the seasonal variability in the POC:chl-a. Our new regional POC algorithm modified for the East/Japan Sea could potentially contribute to long-term monitoring for the climate-associated ecosystem changes in the East/Japan Sea. Although the new regional POC algorithm shows a good correspondence with in-situ observed POC concentrations, the algorithm should be further improved with continuous field surveys.

scholarly journals Vertical distribution of chlorophyll <I>a</I> concentration and phytoplankton community composition from in situ fluorescence profiles: a first database for the global ocean

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sauzède ◽  
H. Lavigne ◽  
H. Claustre ◽  
J. Uitz ◽  
C. Schmechtig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll Fluorescence ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Control Procedure ◽  
Chlorophyll A Concentration ◽  
Phytoplankton Community Composition

Abstract. In vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence is a proxy of chlorophyll a concentration, and is one of the most frequently measured biogeochemical properties in the ocean. Thousands of profiles are available from historical databases and the integration of fluorescence sensors to autonomous platforms has led to a significant increase of chlorophyll fluorescence profile acquisition. To our knowledge, this important source of environmental data has not yet been included in global analyses. A total of 268 127 chlorophyll fluorescence profiles from several databases as well as published and unpublished individual sources were compiled. Following a robust quality control procedure detailed in the present paper, about 49 000 chlorophyll fluorescence profiles were converted into phytoplankton biomass (i.e., chlorophyll a concentration) and size-based community composition (i.e., microphytoplankton, nanophytoplankton and picophytoplankton), using a method specifically developed to harmonize fluorescence profiles from diverse sources. The data span over 5 decades from 1958 to 2015, including observations from all major oceanic basins and all seasons, and depths ranging from the surface to a median maximum sampling depth of around 700 m. Global maps of chlorophyll a concentration and phytoplankton community composition are presented here for the first time. Monthly climatologies were computed for three of Longhurst's ecological provinces in order to exemplify the potential use of the data product. Original data sets (raw fluorescence profiles) as well as calibrated profiles of phytoplankton biomass and community composition are available on open access at PANGAEA, Data Publisher for Earth and Environmental Science. Raw fluorescence profiles: http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.844212 and Phytoplankton biomass and community composition: http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.844485

Effects of zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton communities in Mt Bold Reservoir, South Australia, using enclosures

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 503 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Merrick ◽  
GG Ganf
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Zooplankton Grazing ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Phytoplankton Size ◽  
Temporal Path

Enclosure experiments demonstrated that zooplankton grazing changed the composition of the phytoplankton community in Mt Bold Reservoir. Phytoplankton biomass as measured by chlorophyll a did not change within the enclosures but changed across the experiments in response to zooplankton grazing. The chlorophyll a : phaeophytin a ratio did not reflect zooplankton grazing activity. Phytoplankton species richness and diversity did not change but the frequencies of many individual phytoplankton taxa differed in response to zooplankton grazing. Neither taxonomic identity nor phytoplankton size as measured by greatest axial linear dimension and volume determined the susceptibility of a taxon to grazing. This suggests that other criteria are important in food selection, criteria which vary between experiments. Multivariate statistical techniques successfully differentiated the grazed and the ungrazed phytoplankton communities based on the different frequencies of the component taxa. There was an indication that, within the enclosures, zooplankton grazing advanced the phytoplankton community along a temporal path. Microzooplankton grazing was not examined in these experiments but there was evidence that it was significant.

scholarly journals Ecological Memory of Historical Contamination Influences the Response of Phytoplankton Communities

Ecosystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier L. Baho ◽  
Simone Rizzuto ◽  
Luca Nizzetto ◽  
Dag O. Hessen ◽  
Jon Norberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Photosynthetic Efficiency ◽  
Ecosystem Stability ◽  
Phytoplankton Assemblages ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Ecological Memory ◽  
Structural Resistance ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Sorting Process

AbstractEcological memory (EM) recognizes the importance of previous stress encounters in promoting community tolerance and thereby enhances ecosystem stability, provided that gained tolerances are preserved during non-stress periods. Drawing from this concept, we hypothesized that the recruitment of tolerant species can be facilitated by imposing an initial sorting process (conditioning) during the early stages of community assembly, which should result in higher production (biomass development and photosynthetic efficiency) and stable community composition. To test this, phytoplankton resting stages were germinated from lake sediments originating from two catchments that differed in contamination history: one impacted by long-term herbicides and pesticides exposures (historically contaminated lake) from an agricultural catchment compared to a low-impacted one (near-pristine lake) from a forested catchment. Conditioning was achieved by adding an herbicide (Isoproturon, which was commonly used in the catchment of the historically contaminated lake) during germination. Afterward, the communities obtained from germination were exposed to an increasing gradient of Isoproturon. As hypothesized, upon conditioning, the phytoplankton assemblages from the historically contaminated lake were able to rapidly restore photosynthetic efficiency (p > 0.01) and became structurally (community composition) more resistant to Isoproturon. The communities of the near-pristine lake did not yield these positive effects regardless of conditioning, supporting that EM was a unique attribute of the historically stressed ecosystem. Moreover, assemblages that displayed higher structural resistance concurrently yielded lower biomass, indicating that benefits of EM in increasing structural stability may trade-off with production. Our results clearly indicate that EM can foster ecosystem stability to a recurring stressor.

Phytoplankton community composition in relation to water quality and water-body morphometry in urban lakes, reservoirs, and ponds

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 2163-2174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel D Olding ◽  
Johan A Hellebust ◽  
Marianne SV Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Water Body ◽  
Trophic Status ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Phytoplankton Community Composition ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
Urban Sites ◽  
Cyanobacterial Dominance

Distinct differences in observed summer phytoplankton communities in relation to maximum depth suggest that constraints posed by water-body morphometry may modify the trophic control of phytoplankton-community composition and structure in urban water bodies. In deep urban sites (Zmax [Formula: see text] 5 m), phytoplankton communities tended to be predictably related to trophic status (i.e., increases in trophy were associated with increased cyanobacterial dominance, a decreased proportion of Chrysophyceae-Synurophyceae and grazable-size algae, and a decrease in community richness), although exceptions existed, owing to factors such as human intervention, age of the water body, and flushing rates. In contrast, in shallow urban water bodies (Zmax < 5 m), trophic status was a poor predictor of phytoplankton communities. Across meso- to hyper-eutrophic conditions, shallow urban sites were rarely dominated by cyanobacteria and, when they were, the species composition differed from nutrient-rich deep urban sites. The key requirement for cyanobacterial dominance in shallow urban sites appears to be sufficiently long water residence times, viz., greater than 8-14 days. Further study should describe how the relationship between water body residence time and species-generation time may limit the development of specific nuisance algal species, aiding in the management and rehabilitation of urban water bodies.

scholarly journals Phytoplankton dynamics in contrasting early stage North Atlantic spring blooms: composition, succession, and potential drivers

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2395-2409 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Daniels ◽  
A. J. Poulton ◽  
M. Esposito ◽  
M. L. Paulsen ◽  
R. Bellerby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Spring Bloom ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Biological Factors ◽  
Phytoplankton Composition ◽  
Bloom Formation ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities

Abstract. The spring bloom is a key annual event in the phenology of pelagic ecosystems, making a major contribution to the oceanic biological carbon pump through the production and export of organic carbon. However, there is little consensus as to the main drivers of spring bloom formation, exacerbated by a lack of in situ observations of the phytoplankton community composition and its evolution during this critical period. We investigated the dynamics of the phytoplankton community structure at two contrasting sites in the Iceland and Norwegian basins during the early stage (25 March–25 April) of the 2012 North Atlantic spring bloom. The plankton composition and characteristics of the initial stages of the bloom were markedly different between the two basins. The Iceland Basin (ICB) appeared well mixed down to >400 m, yet surface chlorophyll a (0.27–2.2 mg m−3) and primary production (0.06–0.66 mmol C m−3 d−1) were elevated in the upper 100 m. Although the Norwegian Basin (NWB) had a persistently shallower mixed layer (<100 m), chlorophyll a (0.58–0.93 mg m−3) and primary production (0.08–0.15 mmol C m−3 d−1) remained lower than in the ICB, with picoplankton (<2 μm) dominating chlorophyll a biomass. The ICB phytoplankton composition appeared primarily driven by the physicochemical environment, with periodic events of increased mixing restricting further increases in biomass. In contrast, the NWB phytoplankton community was potentially limited by physicochemical and/or biological factors such as grazing. Diatoms dominated the ICB, with the genus Chaetoceros (1–166 cells mL−1) being succeeded by Pseudo-nitzschia (0.2–210 cells mL−1). However, large diatoms (>10 μm) were virtually absent (<0.5 cells mL−1) from the NWB, with only small nano-sized (<5 μm) diatoms (i.e. Minidiscus spp.) present (101–600 cells mL−1). We suggest microzooplankton grazing, potentially coupled with the lack of a seed population of bloom-forming diatoms, was restricting diatom growth in the NWB, and that large diatoms may be absent in NWB spring blooms. Despite both phytoplankton communities being in the early stages of bloom formation, different physicochemical and biological factors controlled bloom formation at the two sites. If these differences in phytoplankton composition persist, the subsequent spring blooms are likely to be significantly different in terms of biogeochemistry and trophic interactions throughout the growth season, with important implications for carbon cycling and organic matter export.

scholarly journals Seasonal changes of photosynthetical parameters as a results of forest gap model

2015 ◽  
pp. 133-136
Author(s):  
Árpád Szalacsi ◽  
Gergely Király ◽  
Szilvia Veres
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Light Stress ◽  
High Light ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Photosynthetic Parameters ◽  
Total Chlorophyll ◽  
Total Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Chlorophyll A And B

Photosynthetic parameters of English oak (Quercus robur L.) as a member of Querco robori-Carpinetum were investigated in two different habitat in terms of gap forest management: in the gap and in the host forest. The artifical opening process of the forest resulted in more light for growing saplings and need for acclimatization. Photosynthesis is one of the most important way for plant life and plant production. In the centre of photosynthetic efficiency the quality and quantity traits of photosynthetic pigments are standing. During our work some photosynthetic parameters of plants (in the gap and in the forest as well) were measured: relative chlorophyll content as SPAD index, chlorophyll a and b content, total chlorophyll content and ratio of chlorophyll a and b. Based on our results no significant differences among our data in early spring. Although, during the summer significant differences occurred between the measured values in the gap and in the forest area. Lower total chlorophyll content was experienced in the gap, than in the forest area due to the lower chlorophyll-b content. Because of the high light intensity higher chla/chlb ratio was measured in the gap. The lower chlorophyll contents of gap habitat may have a part of the acclimatization process of photosynthetic apparatus against high light stress, which can determinate the survival chance of individual.

scholarly journals Multi-nutrient, multi-group model of present and future oceanic phytoplankton communities

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Litchman ◽  
C. A. Klausmeier ◽  
J. R. Miller ◽  
O. M. Schofield ◽  
P. G. Falkowski
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Total Chlorophyll ◽  
Diatom Bloom ◽  
The North ◽  
Phytoplankton Communities ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
The North Pacific

Abstract. Phytoplankton community composition profoundly influences patterns of nutrient cycling and the structure of marine food webs; therefore predicting present and future phytoplankton community structure is of fundamental importance to understanding how ocean ecosystems are influenced by physical forcing and nutrient limitations. In this paper, we develop a mechanistic model of phytoplankton communities that includes multiple taxonomic groups, test the model at two contrasting sites in the modern ocean, and then use the model to predict community reorganization under different global change scenarios. The model includes three phytoplankton functional groups (diatoms, coccolithophores, and prasinophytes), five nutrients (nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, silicate and iron), light, and a generalist zooplankton grazer. Each taxonomic group was parameterized based on an extensive literature survey. The model successfully predicts the general patterns of community structure and succession in contrasting parts of the world ocean, the North Atlantic (North Atlantic Bloom Experiment, NABE) and subarctic North Pacific (ocean station Papa, OSP). In the North Atlantic, the model predicts a spring diatom bloom, followed by coccolithophore and prasinophyte blooms later in the season. The diatom bloom becomes silica-limited and the coccolithophore and prasinophyte blooms are controlled by nitrogen, grazers and by deep mixing and decreasing light availability later in the season. In the North Pacific, the model reproduces the low chlorophyll community dominated by prasinophytes and coccolithophores, with low total biomass variability and high nutrient concentrations throughout the year. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the identity of the most sensitive parameters and the range of acceptable parameters differed between the two sites. Five global change scenarios are used to drive the model and examine how community dynamics might change in the future. To estimate uncertainty in our predictions, we used a Monte Carlo sampling of the parameter space where future scenarios were run using parameter combinations that produced adequate modern day outcomes. The first scenario is based on a global climate model that indicates that increased greenhouse gas concentrations will cause a later onset and extended duration of stratification and shallower mixed layer depths. Under this scenario, the North Atlantic spring diatom bloom occurs later and is of a smaller magnitude, but the average biomass of diatoms, coccolithophores and prasinophytes will likely increase. In the subarctic North Pacific, diatoms and prasinophytes will likely increase along with total chlorophyll concentration and zooplankton. In contrast, coccolithophore densities do not change at this site. Under the second scenario of decreased deep-water phosphorus concentration, coccolithophores, total chlorophyll and zooplankton decline, as well as the magnitude of the spring diatom bloom, while the average diatom and prasinophyte abundance does not change in the North Atlantic. In contrast, a decrease in phosphorus in the North Pacific is not likely to change community composition. Similarly, doubling of nitrate in deep water does not significantly affect ecosystems at either site. Under decreased iron deposition, coccolithophores are likely to increase and other phytoplankton groups and zooplankton to decrease at both sites. An increase in iron deposition is likely to increase prasinophyte and diatom abundance and decrease coccolithophore abundance at both sites, although more dramatically at the North Pacific site. Total chlorophyll and zooplankton are also likely to increase under this scenario at both sites. Based on these scenarios, our model suggests that global environmental change will inevitably alter phytoplankton community structure and potentially impact global biogeochemical cycles.

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