Succession of picophytoplankton during the spring bloom 2012 in Disko Bay (West Greenland)—an unexpectedly low abundance of green algae.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Succession of picophytoplankton during the spring bloom 2012 in Disko Bay (West Greenland)—an unexpectedly low abundance of green algae.

AU - Sørensen, Nikolaj

AU - Daugbjerg, Niels

AU - Richardson, Katherine

AU - Nørregaard, Rasmus Dyrmose

AU - Espersen, Laila

AU - Møhl, Malene

AU - Nielsen, Torkel Gissel

PY - 2017/2/1

Y1 - 2017/2/1

N2 - Picoplankton are an ecologically important component of pelagic Arctic marine ecosystems that may be heavily impacted by climate change. In order to assess potential impacts of a changing environment on this group, it is necessary to develop a better understanding of their population dynamics and seasonal distribution. This study, carried out in Disko Bay, West Greenland, during spring 2012, demonstrates that fuco-algae (e.g. chrysophytes, cryptophytes, diatoms and pelagophytes) dominated the picophytoplankton during the spring bloom with minor contributions from haptophytes. In the post-bloom phase, fuco-algae were replaced by haptophytes. In contrast to total chlorophyll a, which varied dramatically over the study period, the picoplanktonic chlorophyll a remained relatively stable despite the variability in picophytoplankton community composition. Based on mostly molecular studies, a general picture has emerged from the literature that mamiellophytes (a group within the green algae) dominate Arctic picophytoplankton. Here, however, green algae were found to contribute with only about 10 % of the picoplanktonic chlorophyll a. We suggest here that differences in cell size may offer a plausible explanation for the contrast between results obtained from molecular studies and those obtained from pigment- and microscopy-based studies.

AB - Picoplankton are an ecologically important component of pelagic Arctic marine ecosystems that may be heavily impacted by climate change. In order to assess potential impacts of a changing environment on this group, it is necessary to develop a better understanding of their population dynamics and seasonal distribution. This study, carried out in Disko Bay, West Greenland, during spring 2012, demonstrates that fuco-algae (e.g. chrysophytes, cryptophytes, diatoms and pelagophytes) dominated the picophytoplankton during the spring bloom with minor contributions from haptophytes. In the post-bloom phase, fuco-algae were replaced by haptophytes. In contrast to total chlorophyll a, which varied dramatically over the study period, the picoplanktonic chlorophyll a remained relatively stable despite the variability in picophytoplankton community composition. Based on mostly molecular studies, a general picture has emerged from the literature that mamiellophytes (a group within the green algae) dominate Arctic picophytoplankton. Here, however, green algae were found to contribute with only about 10 % of the picoplanktonic chlorophyll a. We suggest here that differences in cell size may offer a plausible explanation for the contrast between results obtained from molecular studies and those obtained from pigment- and microscopy-based studies.

U2 - 10.1007/s00300-016-1952-8

DO - 10.1007/s00300-016-1952-8

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0722-4060

VL - 40

SP - 463

EP - 469

JO - Polar Biology

JF - Polar Biology

IS - 2

ER -