Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen
Glacial meltwater discharge in fjords on the west coast of Spitsbergen is increasing due to climate change. The influence of this discharge on phytoplankton nutrient limitation, composition, productivity and photophysiology was investigated in central (M) and inner (G) Kongsfjorden (79°N, 11°40’E)....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BioOne
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene |
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| Online Access: | https://www.elementascience.org/articles/307 |
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| author | Willem H. van de Poll Gemma Kulk Patrick D. Rozema Corina P. D. Brussaard Ronald J. W. Visser Anita G. J. Buma |
| author_facet | Willem H. van de Poll Gemma Kulk Patrick D. Rozema Corina P. D. Brussaard Ronald J. W. Visser Anita G. J. Buma |
| author_sort | Willem H. van de Poll |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glacial meltwater discharge in fjords on the west coast of Spitsbergen is increasing due to climate change. The influence of this discharge on phytoplankton nutrient limitation, composition, productivity and photophysiology was investigated in central (M) and inner (G) Kongsfjorden (79°N, 11°40’E). Freshwater influx intensified stratification during June 2015, coinciding with surface nutrient depletion. Surface nutrient concentrations were negatively correlated with stratification strength at station M. Here, nitrate addition assays revealed increasing N limitation of surface phytoplankton during the second half of June, which was followed by a pronounced compositional change within the flagellate-dominated phytoplankton community as dictyochophytes (85% of chl 'a') were replaced with smaller haptophytes (up to 60% of chlorophyll 'a') and prasinophytes (20% of chlorophyll 'a'). These changes were less pronounced at station G, where surface phosphate, ammonium and nitrate concentrations were occasionally higher, and correlated with wind direction, suggesting wind-mediated transport of nutrient-enriched waters to this inner location. Therefore, glacial meltwater discharge mediated nutrient enrichment in the inner fjord, and enhanced stratification in inner and central Kongsfjorden. Surface chlorophyll a and water column productivity showed 3–4-fold variability, and did not correlate with nutrient limitation, euphotic zone depth, or changed taxonomic composition. However, the maximum carbon fixation rate and photosynthetic efficiency showed weak positive correlations to prasinophyte, cryptophyte, and haptophyte chlorophyll 'a'. The present study documented relationships between stratification, N limitation, and changed phytoplankton composition, but surface chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton photosynthetic characteristics, and water column productivity in Kongsfjorden appeared to be driven by mechanisms other than N limitation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:31:10Z |
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| id | doaj.art-2d1ede086bc1445c8909dc22b0a4548c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2325-1026 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:31:10Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BioOne |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d1ede086bc1445c8909dc22b0a4548c2022-12-21T22:53:06ZengBioOneElementa: Science of the Anthropocene2325-10262018-07-016110.1525/elementa.307275Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, SpitsbergenWillem H. van de Poll0Gemma Kulk1Patrick D. Rozema2Corina P. D. Brussaard3Ronald J. W. Visser4Anita G. J. Buma5Department of Ocean Ecosystems, Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG GroningenDepartment of Ocean Ecosystems, Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG GroningenDepartment of Ocean Ecosystems, Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG GroningenNIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, and Utrecht University, 1790 AB Den Burg, TexelDepartment of Ocean Ecosystems, Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG GroningenDepartment of Ocean Ecosystems, Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen; Arctic Centre, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, A-weg 30, 9718 GW GroningenGlacial meltwater discharge in fjords on the west coast of Spitsbergen is increasing due to climate change. The influence of this discharge on phytoplankton nutrient limitation, composition, productivity and photophysiology was investigated in central (M) and inner (G) Kongsfjorden (79°N, 11°40’E). Freshwater influx intensified stratification during June 2015, coinciding with surface nutrient depletion. Surface nutrient concentrations were negatively correlated with stratification strength at station M. Here, nitrate addition assays revealed increasing N limitation of surface phytoplankton during the second half of June, which was followed by a pronounced compositional change within the flagellate-dominated phytoplankton community as dictyochophytes (85% of chl 'a') were replaced with smaller haptophytes (up to 60% of chlorophyll 'a') and prasinophytes (20% of chlorophyll 'a'). These changes were less pronounced at station G, where surface phosphate, ammonium and nitrate concentrations were occasionally higher, and correlated with wind direction, suggesting wind-mediated transport of nutrient-enriched waters to this inner location. Therefore, glacial meltwater discharge mediated nutrient enrichment in the inner fjord, and enhanced stratification in inner and central Kongsfjorden. Surface chlorophyll a and water column productivity showed 3–4-fold variability, and did not correlate with nutrient limitation, euphotic zone depth, or changed taxonomic composition. However, the maximum carbon fixation rate and photosynthetic efficiency showed weak positive correlations to prasinophyte, cryptophyte, and haptophyte chlorophyll 'a'. The present study documented relationships between stratification, N limitation, and changed phytoplankton composition, but surface chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton photosynthetic characteristics, and water column productivity in Kongsfjorden appeared to be driven by mechanisms other than N limitation.https://www.elementascience.org/articles/307Arcticphytoplanktonnutrient limitationpigmentsproductivityphotophysiologystratificationmeltwaterKongsfjorden |
| spellingShingle | Willem H. van de Poll Gemma Kulk Patrick D. Rozema Corina P. D. Brussaard Ronald J. W. Visser Anita G. J. Buma Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene Arctic phytoplankton nutrient limitation pigments productivity photophysiology stratification meltwater Kongsfjorden |
| title | Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen |
| title_full | Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen |
| title_fullStr | Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen |
| title_short | Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen |
| title_sort | contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in kongsfjorden spitsbergen |
| topic | Arctic phytoplankton nutrient limitation pigments productivity photophysiology stratification meltwater Kongsfjorden |
| url | https://www.elementascience.org/articles/307 |
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