Plankton and nekton community structure in the vicinity of the South Sandwich Islands (Southern Ocean) and the influence of environmental factors

The South Sandwich Islands (SSI) are a biologically productive archipelago situated in the eastern Scotia Sea to the south of the eastward flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The islands support important populations of higher predators, including several penguin species, seals and humpback whales. Despite this, the plankton ecology of the region has been little studied and information on mesoscale structure and environmental forcing of plankton ecology is particularly limited. We conducted a comprehensive oceanographic and net sampling campaign during the CCAMLR Area 48 Survey (January and February 2019), incorporating phytoplankton, mesozooplankton and macrozooplankton/nekton. Satellite chlorophyll-a (chl-a) data showed the development of a large bloom that was initiated two months prior to our study period at the south-eastern edge of the archipelago and propagated northwards along the eastern side, limited to the east by mesoscale features associated with the southern boundary of the ACC (SB). Multivariate cluster analysis revealed distinct mesoscale structure within the plankton community, with four spatially defined groups of phytoplankton and macrozooplankton/nekton, and three cluster groups of mesozooplankton. North of the SB, we found some spatial congruence between the three plankton assemblages, with a distinct, spatially coherent, cluster in each, corresponding to a warmer water community. Here, biomass was dominated by mesozooplankton, particularly calanoid copepods Rhincalanus gigas, Calanus propinquus, C. simillimus and Euchaetidae. The corresponding phytoplankton community was dominated by small diatoms, particularly Thalassionema spp., Pseudo-nitzschia spp., Fragilariopsis spp. and Chaetoceros spp., whilst Themisto gaudichaudii, Euphausia triacantha and myctophids were the major contributors to the macrozooplankton/nekton community. South of the SB, there was some spatial congruence between phytoplankton and macrozooplankton/nekton community structure on the western side of the archipelago, as well as on the eastern side that corresponded to the location of the bloom, but less association with mesozooplankton structure. Macrozooplankton/nekton structure was strongly driven by environmental conditions 1–2 months prior to the survey, including sea-ice distribution, surface phytoplankton concentration and productivity, whilst mesozooplankton was more tightly coupled to in-situ prevailing conditions such as surface temperature and integrated chl-a. Top-down pressure between trophic levels may have also had an influence on spatial patterns although direct evidence is lacking. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) was found with relatively low biomass at our net sampling sites (median biomass of 0.04 mg m−3 or <0.01 g m−2) while myctophids and the euphausiid Thysanoessa spp. predominated. We suggest that the highly productive and species rich pelagic community of the SSI supports multiple trophic pathways, and that off-shelf these may operate independently of Antarctic krill

Can a key boreal Calanus copepod species now complete its life-cycle in the Arctic? Evidence and implications for Arctic food-webs

The changing Arctic environment is affecting zooplankton that support its abundant wildlife. We examined how these changes are influencing a key zooplankton species, Calanus finmarchicus, principally found in the North Atlantic but expatriated to the Arctic. Close to the ice-edge in the Fram Strait, we identified areas that, since the 1980s, are increasingly favourable to C. finmarchicus. Field-sampling revealed part of the population there to be capable of amassing enough reserves to overwinter. Early developmental stages were also present in early summer, suggesting successful local recruitment. This extension to suitable C. finmarchicus habitat is most likely facilitated by the long-term retreat of the ice-edge, allowing phytoplankton to bloom earlier and for longer and through higher temperatures increasing copepod developmental rates. The increased capacity for this species to complete its life-cycle and prosper in the Fram Strait can change community structure, with large consequences to regional food-webs

Seasonal cycles of biogeochemical fluxes in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean: A stable isotope approach [in review]

The biological carbon pump is responsible for much of the decadal variability in the ocean carbon dioxide (CO2) sink, driving the transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean. A mechanistic understanding of the ecological drivers of particulate organic carbon (POC) flux is key to both the assessment of the magnitude of the ocean CO2 sink, as well as for accurate predictions as to how this will change with changing climate. This is particularly important in the Southern Ocean, a key region for the uptake of CO2 and the supply of nutrients to the global thermocline. In this study we examine sediment trap derived particle fluxes and stable isotope signatures of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and biogenic silica (BSi) at a study site in the biologically productive waters of the northern Scotia Sea in the Southern Ocean. Both deep (2000 m) and shallow (400 m) sediment traps exhibited two main peaks in POC, particulate nitrogen and BSi flux, one in austral spring and one in summer, reflecting periods of high surface productivity. Particulate fluxes and isotopic compositions were similar in both deep and shallow sediment traps, highlighting that most remineralisation occurred in the upper 400 m of the water column. Differences in the seasonal cycles of isotopic compositions of C, N and Si provide insights into the degree of coupling of these key nutrients. We measured increasing isotopic enrichment of POC and BSi in spring, consistent with fractionation during biological uptake. Since we observed isotopically light particulate material in the traps in summer, we suggest physically-mediated replenishment of lighter isotopes of key nutrients, enabling full expression of the isotopic fractionation associated with biological uptake. The change in the nutrient and remineralisation regimes, indicated by the different isotopic baselines of the spring and summer productive periods suggests to a change in the source region of material reaching the traps, and associated shifts in phytoplankton community structure. This, combined with the occurrence of advective inputs at certain times of the year, highlights the need to make synchronous measurements of physical processes to be able to better track changes in the source regions of sinking particulate material. We also highlight the need to conduct particle specific (e.g. faecal pellet, phytoplankton detritus, zooplankton moults) isotopic analysis to improve the use of this tool in assessing particle composition of sinking particulate material and develop our understanding of the drivers of biogeochemical fluxes

Carbon and lipid contents of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus entering diapause in the Fram Strait and their contribution to the boreal and Arctic lipid pump

The boreal copepod Calanus finmarchicus sequesters substantial amounts of carbon (C) in the deep layers of the North Atlantic Ocean through their contribution to the “lipid pump.” This pump is driven by these zooplankton descending from the surface layers to spend prolonged periods at depth during which time they metabolise substantial lipid reserves and a fraction suffer mortality. C. finmarchicus is principally a boreal species but is expatriated by currents flowing northwards into Arctic regions such as the Fram Strait, where it is now able to complete its life cycle. We considered how this expansion to its distributional range adds to the estimated magnitude of the lipid pump. Field sampling in the Fram Strait found C. finmarchicus abundance to be spatially variable with high values, equivalent to those reported for core distributional areas further south, found mainly in the eastern region. Lipid reserve levels were sufficient for many individuals to survive the overwintering period and reproduce the following spring. In accordance with abundance patterns, lipid pump magnitude was greater in the Eastern Fram Strait (2.04 g C m−2 year−1) compared to the Western Fram Strait (0.33 g C m−2 year−1). At least for the eastern region, these rates are similar to those reported for this species elsewhere (average of 4.35 g C m−2 year−1). When extrapolated to the wider spatial area of the Fram Strait, the lipid pump generated by this species in this ocean sector amounts to 0.3 Mt C year−1. Although constituting a modest proportion of the total C. finmarchicus lipid pump of 19.3 Mt C year−1, it indicates that the continued northwards expansion of this species will act to increase the size of its lipid pump, which may counteract that lost through the northwards retreat of its Arctic congeners, Calanus glacialis and Calanus hyperboreus

The Distribution of <i>Pseudodiaptomus marinus</i> in European and Neighbouring Waters—A Rolling Review

Among non-native copepods, the calanoid Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 is the species probably spreading at the fastest pace in European and neighbouring waters since its first record in the Adriatic Sea in 2007. In this contribution, we provide an update on the distribution of P. marinus in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, along the Atlantic coasts of Europe, in the English Channel and in the southern North Sea. Starting from a previous distribution overview, we include here original and recently (2019–2023) published data to show the novel introduction of this species in different geographical areas, and its secondary spreading in already colonised regions. The picture drawn in this work confirms the strong ability of P. marinus to settle in environments characterised by extremely diverse abiotic conditions, and to take advantage of different vectors of introduction. The data presented allow speculations on realistic future introductions of P. marinus and on the potential extension of its distribution range

Dissolved nutrient and particulate material concentrations and phytoplankton abundance and community composition from cruise JC211 to South Georgia, Southern Ocean, February 2021

Marine macronutrient and particulate material concentrations together with phytoplankton abundance and community composition were measured from samples taken during British Antarctic Survey and UK National Oceanography Centre research cruise JC211 to the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean, carried out onboard RRS James Cook in February-March 2021. Samples were taken from four sections of the cruise: (i) at the British Antarctic Survey Scotia Sea Open-Ocean Observatory (SCOOBIES) P3 mooring in the Georgia Basin, northwest of South Georgia; (ii) as part of the British Antarctic Survey long-term Polar Ocean Ecosystem Time Series - Western Core Box (POETS-WCB) survey at South Georgia; (iii) in the vicinity of giant iceberg A-68A and associated icebergs; and (iv) as part of the A23 repeat hydrographic section. Samples were collected to maximum depth of approximately 500 m from Niskin water bottles attached to a CTD rosette. Full data analyses were performed post-cruise. Concurrent temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements obtained from analysis of water samples and from sensors on the CTD system at the depth and time of each water sample are provided for environmental context. RRS James Cook cruise JC211 was in part supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) National Capability Science (Antarctic Logistics and Infrastructure; NC-ALI) programme. Further funding for sampling around iceberg A-68 was provided by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the UK Government Blue Belt Programme. Data acquisition and analyses were supported by NERC NC-ALI funding to the Ecosystems CONSEC Programme and NERC Grants NE/N018095/1 (ORCHESTRA) and NE/V013254/1 (ENCORE) at the British Antarctic Survey, and by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant 678371 ICY-LAB to K Hendry) and NERC Grant NE/K010034/1 (to SF Henley)