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Flux variability of phyto- and zooplankton communities in the Mauritanian coastal upwelling between 2003 and 2008

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Romero, Oscar E., Baumann, Karl-Heinz, Zonneveld, Karin A. F., Donner, Barbara, Hefter, Jens, Hamady, Bambaye, Pospelova, Vera, Fischer, Gerhard·2020·Biogeosciences
DOI 10.5194/bg-17-187-2020

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Abstract

Continuous multiyear records of sediment-trap-gained microorganism fluxes are scarce. Such studies are important to identify and to understand the main forcings behind seasonal and multiannual evolution of microorganism flux dynamics. Here, we assess the long-term flux variations and population dynamics of diatoms, coccolithophores, calcareous and organic dinoflagellate cysts, foraminifera and pteropods in the eastern boundary upwelling ecosystem of the Canary Current. A multiannual, continuous sediment trap experiment was conducted at the mooring site CBeu (Cap Blanc eutrophic; ∼20 ∘ N, 18 ∘ W; trap depth is ca. 1300 m) off Mauritania (northwest Africa), between June 2003 and March 2008. Throughout the study, the reasonably consistent good match of fluxes of microorganisms and bulk mass reflects the seasonal occurrence of the main upwelling season and relaxation and the contribution of microorganisms to mass flux off Mauritania. A clear successional pattern of microorganisms, i.e., primary producers followed by secondary producers, is not observed. High fluxes of diatoms, coccolithophores, organic dinoflagellate cysts, and planktonic foraminifera occur simultaneously. Peaks of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts and pteropods mostly occurred during intervals of upwelling relaxation. A striking feature of the temporal variability of population occurrences is the persistent pattern of seasonal groups contributions. Species of planktonic foraminifera, diatoms, and organic dinoflagellate cysts typical of coastal upwelling, as well as cooler-water planktonic foraminifera and the coccolithophore Gephyrocapsa oceanica , are abundant at times of intense upwelling (late winter through early summer). Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous dinoflagellate cysts are dominant in warm pelagic surface waters, and all pteropod taxa are more abundant in fall and winter when the water column stratifies. Similarly, coccolithophores of the upper and lower photic zones, together with Emiliania huxleyi , and organic dinoflagellate cysts dominate the assemblage during phases of upwelling relaxation and deeper layer mixing. A significant shift in the “regular” seasonal pattern of taxa relative contribution is observed between 2004 and 2006. Benthic diatoms strongly increased after fall 2005 and dominated the diatom assemblage during the main upwelling season. Additional evidence for a change in population dynamics is the short dominance of the coccolithophore Umbilicosphaera annulus , the occurrence of the pteropod Limacina bulimoides and the strong increase in the flux of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts, abundant in warm tropical oligotrophic waters south of the study area after fall 2005. Altogether, this suggests that pulses of southern waters were transported to the sampling site via the northward Mauritania Current. Our multiannual trap experiment provides a unique opportunity to characterize temporal patterns of variability that can be extrapolated to other eastern boundary upwelling ecosystems (EBUEs), which are experiencing or might experience similar future changes in their plankton community.

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  • There is a strong coupling between aeolian dust inputs and the efficiency of the biological pump to rapidly transfer new organic matter to higher trophic levels.

    “This points to a strong coupling between aeolian dust inputs and the efficiency of the biological pump to rapidly transfer new organic matter to higher trophic levels (Fischer et al., 2019;Romero et al., 2020).”

    From African desert dust influences migrations and fisheries of the Atlantic skipjack-tuna (2023) · cites this paper as Romero et al., 2020

    The Statistical analyses (lines 508–510; page unavailable) report a strong correlation between lithogenic flux and fluxes of primary and secondary producers. The Plankton variability discussion (lines 514–524; page unavailable) identifies Saharan and Sahelian dust and notes that those producers’ fluxes peak at roughly the same time. These observations do not establish that dust inputs increase biological-pump efficiency or rapidly transfer new organic matter to higher trophic levels. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Off Mauritania, correlations between desert dust and the fluxes of phytoplanktonic (diatoms, coccolithophores, organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts) and zooplanktonic (foraminifera) species are observed during upwelling periods.

    “Off Mauritania, correlations between desert dust and the fluxes of phytoplanktonic (diatoms, coccolithophores, organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts) and zooplanktonic (foraminifera) species are observed during upwelling periods (Romero et al., 2020).”

    From African desert dust influences migrations and fisheries of the Atlantic skipjack-tuna (2023) · cites this paper as Romero et al., 2020

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Authors
Romero, O. E., Baumann, K.-H., Zonneveld, K. A. F., Donner, B., Hefter, J., Hamady, B., Pospelova, V., & Fischer, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Bremen (DE)
  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE)
  • Institut Mauritanien de Recherches Océanographiques et des Pêches (MR)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
Corresponding author
  • Romero, Oscar E.
  • Baumann, Karl-Heinz
  • Zonneveld, Karin A. F.
  • Donner, Barbara
  • Hefter, Jens
  • Hamady, Bambaye
  • Pospelova, Vera
  • Fischer, Gerhard
ORCID
Venue
Biogeosciences
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Published
2020-01-17
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
187-214
ISSN
  • 1726-4170 (ISSN-L)
  • 1726-4189
DOI
10.5194/bg-17-187-2020
OpenAlex
W2971173177
Cited by
38
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 3
FWCI
3.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Biogeosciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Universität Bremen
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine Biology and Ecology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
Keywords
sediment traps, phytoplankton, zooplankton, diatoms, coccolithophores, dinoflagellate cysts, planktonic foraminifera, pteropods, upwelling, upwelling relaxation, eastern boundary upwelling, Canary Current, Mauritania, Gephyrocapsa oceanica, Emiliania huxleyi, seasonal succession

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