Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic Ocean
This study assesses the response of phytoplankton assemblages to recent climate change, especially with regard to the shrinking of sea ice in the northern Chukchi Sea of the western Arctic Ocean. Distribution patterns of phytoplankton groups in the late summers of 2008–2010 were analysed based on HP...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/1705/2014/bg-11-1705-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818962695330725888 |
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| author | A. Fujiwara T. Hirawake K. Suzuki I. Imai S.-I. Saitoh |
| author_facet | A. Fujiwara T. Hirawake K. Suzuki I. Imai S.-I. Saitoh |
| author_sort | A. Fujiwara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study assesses the response of phytoplankton assemblages to recent
climate change, especially with regard to the shrinking of sea ice in the
northern Chukchi Sea of the western Arctic Ocean. Distribution patterns of
phytoplankton groups in the late summers of 2008–2010 were analysed based
on HPLC pigment signatures and, the following four major algal groups were
inferred via multiple regression and cluster analyses: prasinophytes,
diatoms, haptophytes and dinoflagellates. A remarkable interannual
difference in the distribution pattern of the groups was found in the
northern basin area. Haptophytes dominated and dispersed widely in warm
surface waters in 2008, whereas prasinophytes dominated in cold water in
2009 and 2010. A difference in the onset date of sea ice retreat was evident
among years–the sea ice retreat in 2008 was 1–2 months earlier than in
2009 and 2010. The spatial distribution of early sea ice retreat matched the
areas in which a shift in algal community composition was observed.
Steel-Dwass's multiple comparison tests were used to assess the physical,
chemical and biological parameters of the four clusters. We found a
statistically significant difference in temperature between the
haptophyte-dominated cluster and the other clusters, suggesting that the
change in the phytoplankton communities was related to the earlier sea ice
retreat in 2008 and the corollary increase in sea surface temperatures.
Longer periods of open water during the summer, which are expected in the
future, may affect food webs and biogeochemical cycles in the western Arctic
due to shifts in phytoplankton community structure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:33:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-38072a68645d4c33ab6a6935d561e3b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:33:25Z |
| publishDate | 2014-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biogeosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-38072a68645d4c33ab6a6935d561e3b42022-12-21T19:40:40ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892014-04-011171705171610.5194/bg-11-1705-2014Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic OceanA. Fujiwara0T. Hirawake1K. Suzuki2I. Imai3S.-I. Saitoh4Arctic Research Center, National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3, Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, JapanFaculty/Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, 3-1-1 Minatocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, JapanFaculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University/JST-CREST, N10 W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, JapanFaculty/Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, 3-1-1 Minatocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, JapanFaculty/Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, 3-1-1 Minatocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, JapanThis study assesses the response of phytoplankton assemblages to recent climate change, especially with regard to the shrinking of sea ice in the northern Chukchi Sea of the western Arctic Ocean. Distribution patterns of phytoplankton groups in the late summers of 2008–2010 were analysed based on HPLC pigment signatures and, the following four major algal groups were inferred via multiple regression and cluster analyses: prasinophytes, diatoms, haptophytes and dinoflagellates. A remarkable interannual difference in the distribution pattern of the groups was found in the northern basin area. Haptophytes dominated and dispersed widely in warm surface waters in 2008, whereas prasinophytes dominated in cold water in 2009 and 2010. A difference in the onset date of sea ice retreat was evident among years–the sea ice retreat in 2008 was 1–2 months earlier than in 2009 and 2010. The spatial distribution of early sea ice retreat matched the areas in which a shift in algal community composition was observed. Steel-Dwass's multiple comparison tests were used to assess the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the four clusters. We found a statistically significant difference in temperature between the haptophyte-dominated cluster and the other clusters, suggesting that the change in the phytoplankton communities was related to the earlier sea ice retreat in 2008 and the corollary increase in sea surface temperatures. Longer periods of open water during the summer, which are expected in the future, may affect food webs and biogeochemical cycles in the western Arctic due to shifts in phytoplankton community structure.http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/1705/2014/bg-11-1705-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. Fujiwara T. Hirawake K. Suzuki I. Imai S.-I. Saitoh Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic Ocean Biogeosciences |
| title | Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic Ocean |
| title_full | Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic Ocean |
| title_fullStr | Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic Ocean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic Ocean |
| title_short | Timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western Arctic Ocean |
| title_sort | timing of sea ice retreat can alter phytoplankton community structure in the western arctic ocean |
| url | http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/1705/2014/bg-11-1705-2014.pdf |
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