A climatology of infrasound detections at Kerguelen Island

<p>The International Monitoring System (IMS) is in place for the verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Part of the IMS are 60 infrasound arrays, of which 51 currently provide real-time infrasound recordings from around the world. Those arrays play a central role in the characterization of the global infrasonic wavefield and localization of infrasound sources.</p><p>Power Spectral Density (PSD) estimates give insight into the noise levels per station and array. The IMS global low and high noise model curves have been determined in a study by Brown et al. [2014] using a distribution of computed PSDs. All the IMS infrasound arrays, except IS23, have been included in the determination of the atmospheric ambient noise curves. IS23 is located at Kerguelen Island and exist of 15 elements that have been divided into five 100 meter aperture triplets arrays. The array is located at one of the noisiest locations in the world, due to the high wind conditions that exist year-round. The resulting high noise floor appears to hamper infrasound detection at this island array.</p><p>In this work, the effects of meteorological, oceanographic, and topographical conditions on the infrasound recordings at IS23 are studied. Five years of infrasound data is analyzed, as recorded by IS23, by using various processing techniques. Contributions within different frequency bands are evaluated. The infrasound detections are explained in terms of the stratospheric winds and ocean wave activity. Understanding and characterization of the low-frequency recordings of IS23 are of importance for successfully including this array for verification of the CTBT.</p>

High contribution ofPelagibacteralesto bacterial community composition and activity in spring blooms off Kerguelen Island (Southern Ocean)

The ecology of Pelagibacterales (SAR11 clade), the most abundant bacterial group in the ocean, has been intensively studied in temperate and tropical ocean regions, but the distribution patterns of this clade remains largely unexplored in the Southern Ocean. Through amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes, we assessed the contribution of Pelagibacterales to bacterial community composition in the naturally iron fertilized region off Kerguelen Island (Southern Ocean). We investigated the upper 300 m water column at seven sites located in early spring phytoplankton blooms and at one site in HNLC waters. Despite pronounced vertical patterns of the bacterioplankton assemblages, the SAR11 clade had high relative abundances at all depths and sites, averaging 40% (±15%) of the total community relative abundance. Micro-autoradiography combined with CARD-FISH further revealed that the SAR11 clade contributed substantially (45-60% in surface waters) to bacterial biomass production (as determined by3H leucine incorporation). A clear niche partitioning of the further resolved SAR11 subclades was observed with depth layers, but differences among sites were detectable for only a few subclades. Our study provides novel observations of the distribution and contribution to the marine carbon cycle of the SAR11 clade in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean.

High variability of dissolved iron concentrations in the vicinity of Kerguelen Island (Southern Ocean)

Dissolved Fe (dFe) concentrations were measured in the upper 1300 m of the water column in the vicinity of Kerguelen Island as part of the second Kerguelen Ocean Plateau compared Study (KEOPS2). Concentrations ranged from 0.06 nmol L−1 in offshore, Southern Ocean waters, to 3.82 nmol L−1 within Hillsborough Bay, on the north-eastern coast of Kerguelen Island. Direct island runoff, glacial melting and resuspended sediments were identified as important inputs of dFe that could potentially fertilize the northern part of the plateau. A significant deep dFe enrichment was observed over the plateau with dFe concentrations increasing up to 1.30 nmol L−1 close to the seafloor, probably due to sediment resuspension and pore water release. Biological uptake was identified as a likely explanation for the decrease in dFe concentrations between two visits (28 days apart) at a station above the plateau. Our results allowed studying other processes and sources, such as atmospheric inputs, lateral advection of enriched seawater, remineralization processes and the influence of the Polar Front (PF) as a vector for Fe transport. Overall, heterogeneous sources of Fe over and off the Kerguelen Plateau, in addition to strong variability in Fe supply by vertical or horizontal transport, may explain the high variability in dFe concentrations observed during this study.

Taxon-specific responses of Southern Ocean diatoms to Fe enrichment revealed by synchrotron radiation FTIR microspectroscopy

Photosynthesis by marine diatoms contributes substantially to global biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem productivity. It is widely accepted that diatoms are extremely sensitive to changes in Fe availability, with numerous in situ experiments demonstrating rapid growth and increased export of elements (e.g. C, Si and Fe) from surface waters as a result of Fe addition. Less is known about the effects of Fe enrichment on the phenotypes of diatoms, such as associated changes in nutritional value – furthermore, data on taxon-specific responses are almost non-existent. Enhanced supply of nutrient-rich waters along the coast of the subantarctic Kerguelen Island provide a valuable opportunity to examine the responses of phytoplankton to natural Fe enrichment. Here we demonstrate the use of synchrotron radiation Fourier Transform Infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy to analyse changes in the macromolecular composition of diatoms collected along the coast and plateau of Kerguelen Island, Southern Ocean. SR-FTIR microspectroscopy enabled the analysis of individual diatom cells from mixed communities of field-collected samples, thereby providing insight into in situ taxon-specific responses in relation to changes in Fe availability. Phenotypic responses were taxon-specific in terms of intraspecific variability and changes in proteins, amino acids, phosphorylated molecules, silicate/silicic acid and carbohydrates. In contrast to some previous studies, silicate/silicic acid levels increased under Fe enrichment, in conjunction with increases in carbohydrate stores. The highly abundant taxon Fragilariopsis kerguelensis displayed a higher level of phenotypic plasticity than Pseudo-nitzschia spp., while analysis of the data pooled across all measured taxa showed different patterns in macromolecular composition compared to those for individual taxon. This study demonstrates that taxon-specific responses to Fe enrichment may not always be accurately reflected by bulk community measurements, highlighting the need for further research into taxon-specific phenotypic responses of phytoplankton to environmental change.

Rapid formation of large aggregates during the spring bloom of Kerguelen Island: observations and model comparisons

While production of aggregates and their subsequent sinking is known to be one pathway for the downward movement of organic matter from the euphotic zone, the rapid transition from non-aggregated to aggregated particles has not been reported previously. We made one vertical profile of particle size distributions (PSD; sizes ranging from 0.052 to several millimeters in equivalent spherical diameter) at pre-bloom stage and seven vertical profiles 3 weeks later over a 48 h period at early bloom stage using the Underwater Vision Profiler during the Kerguelen Ocean and Plateau Compared Study cruise 2 (KEOPS2, October–November 2011). In these naturally iron-fertilized waters southeast of Kerguelen Island (Southern Ocean), the total particle numerical abundance increased by more than fourfold within this time period. A massive total volume increase associated with particle size distribution changes was observed over the 48 h survey, showing the rapid formation of large particles and their accumulation at the base of the mixed layer. The results of a one-dimensional particle dynamics model support coagulation as the mechanism responsible for the rapid aggregate formation and the development of the VT subsurface maxima. The comparison of VT profiles between early bloom stage and pre-bloom stage indicates an increase of particulate export below 200 m when bloom has developed. These results highlight the role of coagulation in forming large particles and triggering carbon export at the early stage of a naturally iron-fertilized bloom, while zooplankton grazing may dominate later in the season. The rapid changes observed illustrate the critical need to measure carbon export flux with high sampling temporal resolution. Our results are the first published in situ observations of the rapid accumulation of marine aggregates and their export and the general agreement of this rapid event with a model of phytoplankton growth and coagulation.

Taxon-specific responses of Southern Ocean diatoms to Fe enrichment revealed by synchrotron radiation FTIR microspectroscopy

Photosynthesis by marine diatoms contributes substantially to global biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem productivity. It is widely accepted that diatoms are extremely sensitive to changes in Fe availability, with numerous in situ experiments demonstrating rapid growth and increased export of elements (e.g. C, Si and Fe) from surface waters as a result of Fe addition. Less is known about the effects of Fe enrichment on the phenotypes of diatoms, such as associated changes in nutritional value, furthermore data on taxon-specific responses is almost non-existent. Enhanced supply of nutrient-rich waters along the coast of the subantarctic Kerguelen Island provide a valuable opportunity to examine the responses of phytoplankton to natural Fe enrichment. Here we demonstrate the use of synchrotron radiation Fourier Transform Infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy to analyse changes in the macromolecular composition of diatoms collected along the coast and plateau of Kerguelen Island, Southern Ocean. SR-FTIR microspectroscopy enabled the analysis of individual diatom cells from mixed communities of field-collected samples, thereby providing insight into in situ taxon-specific responses in relation to changes in Fe availability. Phenotypic responses were taxon-specific in terms of intraspecific variability and changes in proteins, amino acids, phosphorylated molecules, silicate and carbohydrates. In contrast to some previous studies, silicate levels increased under Fe enrichment, in conjunction with increases in carbohydrate stores. The highly abundant taxon Fragilariopsis kerguelensis displayed a higher level of phenotypic plasticity than Pseudo-nitzschia spp., while analysis of the data pooled across all measured taxa showed different patterns in macromolecular composition compared to those for individual taxon. This study demonstrates that taxon-specific responses to Fe enrichment may not always be accurately reflected by bulk community measurements, highlighting the need for further research into taxon-specific phenotypic responses of phytoplankton to environmental change.

Rapid formation of large aggregates during the spring bloom of Kerguelen Island: observations and model comparisons

We recorded vertical profiles of particle size distributions (PSD, sizes ranging from 0.052 to several mm in equivalent spherical diameter) in the natural iron-fertilized bloom southeast of Kerguelen Island (Southern Ocean) from pre-bloom to early bloom stage. PSD were measured by the Underwater Vision Profiler during the Kerguelen Ocean and Plateau Compared Study cruise 2 (KEOPS 2, October–November 2011). The total particle numerical abundance was more than 4 fold higher during the early bloom phase compared to pre-bloom conditions as a result of the 2-weeks bloom development. We witnessed the rapid formation of large particles and their accumulation at the base of the mixed layer within a two days period, as indicated by changes in total particle volume (VT) and particle size distribution. The VT profiles suggest sinking of particles from the mixed layer to 200 m, but little export deeper than 200 m during the observation period. The results of a one dimensional particles dynamic model support coagulation as the mechanism responsible for the rapid aggregate formation and the development of the VT subsurface maxima. Comparison with KEOPS1, which investigated the same area during late summer, and previous iron fertilization experiments highlights physical aggregation as the primary mechanism for large particulate production during the earlier phase of iron fertilized bloom and its export from the surface mixed layer.

Further new species of Menegazzia (Parmeliaceae, Lecanorales)

Three new species of Menegazzia are described and illustrated, and their relationships and affinities to other species in the genus discussed. Menegazziabjerkeana Kantvilas is an isidiate species from the coastal ranges of New South Wales; M. brattii Kantvilas is an eight-spored species related to the widespread M. pertransita (Müll. Arg.) R. Sant., and is endemic to Kerguelen Island; and M. gallowayi Kantvilas is an eight-spored species from South Island, New Zealand. Menegazzia sanguinascens (Räsänen) R. Sant. is recorded from Kerguelen for the first time.