Aquatic scientists have long been concerned with understanding causes of eutrophication, and yet,... more Aquatic scientists have long been concerned with understanding causes of eutrophication, and yet, even after decades of research, contradictory views remain concerning the need to control nitrogen inputs. At the heart of the current debate is the question of how well our understanding of ecosystem responses to nutrient loading can be applied at different scales and across systems. Here, we take a watershed-scale view of eutrophication. We review how aquatic ecosystems respond differently to nutrient inputs and discuss how processes such as nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and sorption/release of phosphorus can alter the relationship between nutrient loading in a watershed and downstream eutrophication. We recommend a context-specific approach to eutrophication management that considers ecosystem responses to nutrient loading throughout the watershed as well as controllability of various nutrient inputs. By beginning to develop a theory of eutrophication at the watershed scale, it...
ABSTRACT Marine microbial communities have been little studied in Arctic waters, especially durin... more ABSTRACT Marine microbial communities have been little studied in Arctic waters, especially during the winter–spring transition before the development of extensive phytoplankton blooms. This study investigated microbial plankton in the ice-covered polar surface waters of the northwestern Fram Strait (75 to 80°N) at the onset of the 24 h light period in spring (April to May). The system we encountered was characterised by low concentrations of chlorophyll a (< 0.2 μg l −1) and a low abundance of both bacteria (1.4 to 2.5 × 10^8 cells l −1) and protists (1 to 1.7 × 10^5 cells l −1). Bacterial production was very low (≤0.63 μg C l−1 d−1), despite the dominance of nucleic-acid-rich bacteria (58 ± 6% of total bacterial abundance). Small (2 to 5 μm) phototrophs dominated the eukaryotic assemblage in the surface and most probably had profound effects on the composition and metabolic balance of the microbial community as a whole. Most stations appeared to have been net-autotrophic, and calcula- tions of phagotrophy indicated a balanced carbon budget for the microbial community. Mixotrophy was seen in a large part of the ciliate assemblage and may have contributed to the productivity and stability of the pre-bloom system that we encountered.
Meadows of the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica are threatened in the Mediterranean due to a g... more Meadows of the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica are threatened in the Mediterranean due to a general deterioration of the light environment that becomes critical when light irradiance is insufficient to meet the carbon requirements of the system. Here, we conduct a 3 wk, in situ shading experiment (8 levels plus controls) to determine the threshold of irradiance for balanced metabolism in a shallow P. oceanica meadow and further assess the recovery of the system 1 wk later. Reduced light irradiance decreased the net community production of the meadow, which may turn negative (i.e. respiration exceeded gross community primary production) under 338 μE m−2 s−1. Shading throughout the experiment did not appear to cause sustained physiological damage to the system since values of net community production after the cessation of shading were similar to pre-experimental, ambient levels. Sediment acid volatile sulfide pools ranged between 0.002 and 0.058 mol m−2 across shading treatments, and the highest pools were observed in the most shaded sediments. At high light impairment, meristematic cell divisions were low, and carbohydrate content in young rhizomes decreased throughout the experiment. Eight days after the cessation of shading, reduced rhizome carbohydrate stores and elevated sediment sulfide levels still persisted in the previously intensively shaded areas. The present study provides evidence of resistance and resilience of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to light impairment for short (3 wk) periods of time. Although the compensation irradiance of the system varied by ~2-fold, it provides a quantitative estimate of the irradiance threshold at which seagrass meadows may shift from being coastal carbon sinks to CO2 sources.
Coastal areas play an important role on carbon cycling. Elucidating the dynamics on the productio... more Coastal areas play an important role on carbon cycling. Elucidating the dynamics on the production, transport, and fate of organic carbon (OC) is relevant to gain a better understanding on the role coastal areas play in the global carbon budget. Here, we assess the metabolic status and associated OC fluxes of a semi-enclosed Mediterranean bay supporting a meadow of Caulerpa prolifera. We test whether the EDOC pool is a significant component of the OC pool and associated fluxes in this ecosystem. The Bay of Portocolom was in net metabolic balance on a yearly basis, but heterotrophic during the summer months. Community respiration (CR) was positively correlated to C. prolifera biomass, while net community production (NCP) had a negative correlation. The benthic compartment represented, on average, 72.6 ± 5.2% of CR and 86.8 ± 4.5% of gross primary production (GPP). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) production peaked in summer and was always positive, with the incubations performed in the dark almost doubling the flux of those performed in the light. Exchangeable dissolved organic carbon (EDOC), however, oscillated between production and uptake, being completely recycled within the system and representing around 14% of the DOC flux. The pools of bottom and surface DOC were high for an oligotrophic environment, and were positively correlated to the pool of EDOC. Thus, despite being in metabolic balance, this ecosystem acted as a conduit for OC, as it is able to export OC to adjacent areas derived from allochtonous inputs during heterotrophic conditions. These inputs likely come from groundwater discharge, human activity in the watershed, delivered to the sediments through the high capacity of C. prolifera to remove particles from the water column, and from the air-water exchange of EDOC, demonstrating that these communities are a major contributor to the cycling of OC in coastal embayments.
Hypoxia is one of the common effects of eutrophication in coastal marine ecosystems and is becomi... more Hypoxia is one of the common effects of eutrophication in coastal marine ecosystems and is becoming an increasingly prevalent problem worldwide. The causes of hypoxia are associated with excess nutrient inputs from both point and non-point sources, although the response of coastal marine ecosystems is strongly modulated by physical processes such as stratification and mixing. Changes in climate, particularly temperature, may also affect the susceptibility of coastal marine ecosystems to hypoxia. Hypoxia is a particularly severe disturbance because it causes death of biota and catastrophic changes in the ecosystem. Bottom water oxygen deficiency not only influences the habitat of living resources but also the biogeochemical processes that control nutrient concentrations in the water column. Increased phosphorus fluxes from sediments into overlying waters occur with hypoxia. In addition, reductions in the ability of ecosystems to remove nitrogen through denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation may be related to hypoxia and could lead to acceleration in the rate of eutrophication. Three large coastal marine ecosystems (Chesapeake Bay, Northern Gulf of Mexico, and Danish Straits) all demonstrate thresholds whereby repeated hypoxic events have led to an increase in susceptibility of further hypoxia and accelerated eutrophication. Once hypoxia occurs, reoccurrence is likely and may be difficult to reverse. Therefore, elucidating ecosystem thresholds of hypoxia and linking them to nutrient inputs are necessary for the management of coastal marine ecosystems. Finally, projected increases in warming show an increase in the susceptibility of coastal marine ecosystems to hypoxia such that hypoxia will expand.
Hypoxia is emerging as a major threat to marine coastal biota. Predicting its occurrence and eluc... more Hypoxia is emerging as a major threat to marine coastal biota. Predicting its occurrence and elucidating the driving factors are essential to set successful management targets to avoid its occurrence. This study aims to elucidate the effects of warming on the likelihood of hypoxia. High-frequency dissolved oxygen measurements have been used to estimate gross primary production (GPP), net ecosystem production (NEP) and community respiration (CR) in a shallow macroalgae (Caulerpa prolifera) ecosystem in a highly human-influenced closed Mediterranean bay. Daily averaged GPP and CR ranged from 0 to 1,240.9 and 51.4 to 1,297.3 mmol O 2 m −2 day −1 , respectively. The higher GPP and CR were calculated for the same day, when daily averaged water temperature was 28.3 °C, and resulted in a negative NEP of −56.4 mmol O 2 m −2 day −1. The ecosystem was net heterotrophic during the studied period, probably subsidized by allochthonous organic inputs from ground waters and from the surrounding town and boating activity. Oxygen dynamics and metabolic rates strongly depend on water temperature, with lower oxygen content at higher temperatures. The probability of hypoxic conditions increased at a rate of 0.39 % °C −1 (±0.14 % °C −1). Global warming will increase the likelihood of hypoxia in the bay studied, as well as in other semi-enclosed bays.
The metabolism of the Arctic Ocean is marked by
extremely pronounced seasonality and spatial hete... more The metabolism of the Arctic Ocean is marked by extremely pronounced seasonality and spatial heterogeneity associated with light conditions, ice cover, water masses and nutrient availability. Here we report the marine planktonic metabolic rates (net community production, gross primary production and community respiration) along three different seasons of the year, for a total of eight cruises along the western sector of the European Arctic (Fram Strait – Svalbard region) in the Arctic Ocean margin: one at the end of 2006 (fall/winter), two in 2007 (early spring and summer), two in 2008 (early spring and summer), one in 2009 (late spring–early summer), one in 2010 (spring) and one in 2011 (spring). The results show that the metabolism of the western sector of the European Arctic varies throughout the year, depending mostly on the stage of bloom and water temperature. Here we report metabolic rates for the different periods, including the spring bloom, summer and the dark period, increasing considerably the empirical basis of metabolic rates in the Arctic Ocean, and especially in the European Arctic corridor. Additionally, a rough annual metabolic estimate for this area of the Arctic Ocean was calculated, resulting in a net community production of 108 g Cm−2 yr−1.
Increased anthropogenic pressures on coastal marine ecosystems in the last century are threatenin... more Increased anthropogenic pressures on coastal marine ecosystems in the last century are threatening their biodiversity and functioning. Global warming and increases in nutrient loadings are two major stressors affecting these systems. Global warming is expected to increase both atmospheric and water temperatures and increase precipitation and terrestrial runoff, further increasing organic matter and nutrient inputs to coastal areas. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations frequently exceed those of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in aquatic systems. Many components of the DON pool have been shown to supply nitrogen nutrition to phytoplankton and bacteria. Predictions of how global warming and eutrophication will affect metabolic rates and dissolved oxygen dynamics in the future are needed to elucidate their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Here, we experimentally determine the effects of simultaneous DON additions and warming on planktonic community metabolism in the Baltic Sea, the largest coastal area suffering from eutrophication-driven hypoxia. Both bacterioplankton community composition and metabolic rates changed in relation to temperature. DON additions from wastewater treatment plant effluents significantly increased the activation energies for community respiration and gross primary production. Activation energies for community respiration were higher than those for gross primary production. Results support the prediction that warming of the Baltic Sea will enhance planktonic respiration rates faster than it will for planktonic primary production. Higher increases in respiration rates than in production may lead to the depletion of the oxygen pool, further aggravating hypoxia in the Baltic Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea has been identified as one of the hotspots for climate change. Intense warm... more The Mediterranean Sea has been identified as one of the hotspots for climate change. Intense warming in the Mediterranean Sea may have strong implications for biological activity and ecosystem functioning. To elucidate the effects of warming on planktonic and benthic metabolism, we performed experiments under different increasing temperature regimes, ranging from three to six different temperatures. The lowest range of temperatures assessed was of 2.6 °C and the maximum was 7.5 °C. Our results suggest that a 6 °C warming of the Mediterranean waters may yield a mean increment in planktonic respiration rates of coastal communities of 24 %, higher than the mean increase expected for planktonic gross primary production (9 %). These results confirm earlier theories, and agree with previous experiments, of a higher increase in respiration rates than in primary production with warming, with the subsequent consequences for the carbon cycle, resulting in a negative feedback to climate warming, as ocean communities will capture less CO 2 .
The Arctic Ocean is the region on Earth supporting the steepest warming rate and is also particul... more The Arctic Ocean is the region on Earth supporting the steepest warming rate and is also particularly vulnerable due to the vanishing ice cover. Intense warming in the Arctic has strong implications for biological activity and the functioning of an Arctic Ocean deprived of ice cover in summer. We evaluated the impact of increasing temperature on respiration rates of surface marine planktonic communities in the European Arctic sector, a property constraining the future role of the Arctic Ocean in the CO 2 balance of the atmosphere. We performed experiments under four different temperature elevation regimes (in situ, ?2, ?4 and ?6°C above the temperature of the sampled water) during cruises conducted in the Fram Strait region and off Svalbard during late fall–early winter, spring and summer. During late fall– early winter, where only three different temperatures were used, no response to warming was observed, whereas respiration rates increased in response to warming in spring and summer, although with variable strength.
The effect of warming on the oxygen requirements and the survival of benthic organisms under hypo... more The effect of warming on the oxygen requirements and the survival of benthic organisms under hypoxia was tested using a meta-analysis of published results of experiments evaluating the effects of temperature on the median lethal time and median lethal concentration of benthic macrofauna under hypoxia. The meta-analysis confirmed that survival times under hypoxia were reduced by on average 74% and that median lethal concentration increased by on average 16% when marine benthic organisms were exposed to warmer temperatures. Warming reduced survival times of marine benthic macrofauna under hypoxia by a median of 3.95 AE 1.67 h 1C À1 and increased the oxygen thresholds for hypoxia-driven mortality by a median of 1.02 AE 0.15% saturation 1C À1 or 0.07 AE 0.01 mg O 2 L À1 1C À1. The corresponding Q 10 values averaged 3.01 AE 0.29 for the median survival time and 2.09 AE 0.20 for the median lethal oxygen concentration. Use of these Q 10 values predicts that the 4 1C warming expected during the 21st century will lead to survival times 35.6% lower under hypoxia and that the threshold oxygen concentrations for high mortality to occur will increase by, on average, 25.5% if bottom water temperature increased by 4 1C. Hence, ocean warming is expected to increase the vulnerability of benthic macrofauna to reduced oxygen concentrations and expand the area of coastal ecosystems affected by hypoxia.
Aquatic scientists have long been concerned with understanding causes of eutrophication, and yet,... more Aquatic scientists have long been concerned with understanding causes of eutrophication, and yet, even after decades of research, contradictory views remain concerning the need to control nitrogen inputs. At the heart of the current debate is the question of how well our understanding of ecosystem responses to nutrient loading can be applied at different scales and across systems. Here, we take a watershed-scale view of eutrophication. We review how aquatic ecosystems respond differently to nutrient inputs and discuss how processes such as nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and sorption/release of phosphorus can alter the relationship between nutrient loading in a watershed and downstream eutrophication. We recommend a context-specific approach to eutrophication management that considers ecosystem responses to nutrient loading throughout the watershed as well as controllability of various nutrient inputs. By beginning to develop a theory of eutrophication at the watershed scale, it...
ABSTRACT Marine microbial communities have been little studied in Arctic waters, especially durin... more ABSTRACT Marine microbial communities have been little studied in Arctic waters, especially during the winter–spring transition before the development of extensive phytoplankton blooms. This study investigated microbial plankton in the ice-covered polar surface waters of the northwestern Fram Strait (75 to 80°N) at the onset of the 24 h light period in spring (April to May). The system we encountered was characterised by low concentrations of chlorophyll a (< 0.2 μg l −1) and a low abundance of both bacteria (1.4 to 2.5 × 10^8 cells l −1) and protists (1 to 1.7 × 10^5 cells l −1). Bacterial production was very low (≤0.63 μg C l−1 d−1), despite the dominance of nucleic-acid-rich bacteria (58 ± 6% of total bacterial abundance). Small (2 to 5 μm) phototrophs dominated the eukaryotic assemblage in the surface and most probably had profound effects on the composition and metabolic balance of the microbial community as a whole. Most stations appeared to have been net-autotrophic, and calcula- tions of phagotrophy indicated a balanced carbon budget for the microbial community. Mixotrophy was seen in a large part of the ciliate assemblage and may have contributed to the productivity and stability of the pre-bloom system that we encountered.
Meadows of the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica are threatened in the Mediterranean due to a g... more Meadows of the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica are threatened in the Mediterranean due to a general deterioration of the light environment that becomes critical when light irradiance is insufficient to meet the carbon requirements of the system. Here, we conduct a 3 wk, in situ shading experiment (8 levels plus controls) to determine the threshold of irradiance for balanced metabolism in a shallow P. oceanica meadow and further assess the recovery of the system 1 wk later. Reduced light irradiance decreased the net community production of the meadow, which may turn negative (i.e. respiration exceeded gross community primary production) under 338 μE m−2 s−1. Shading throughout the experiment did not appear to cause sustained physiological damage to the system since values of net community production after the cessation of shading were similar to pre-experimental, ambient levels. Sediment acid volatile sulfide pools ranged between 0.002 and 0.058 mol m−2 across shading treatments, and the highest pools were observed in the most shaded sediments. At high light impairment, meristematic cell divisions were low, and carbohydrate content in young rhizomes decreased throughout the experiment. Eight days after the cessation of shading, reduced rhizome carbohydrate stores and elevated sediment sulfide levels still persisted in the previously intensively shaded areas. The present study provides evidence of resistance and resilience of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to light impairment for short (3 wk) periods of time. Although the compensation irradiance of the system varied by ~2-fold, it provides a quantitative estimate of the irradiance threshold at which seagrass meadows may shift from being coastal carbon sinks to CO2 sources.
Coastal areas play an important role on carbon cycling. Elucidating the dynamics on the productio... more Coastal areas play an important role on carbon cycling. Elucidating the dynamics on the production, transport, and fate of organic carbon (OC) is relevant to gain a better understanding on the role coastal areas play in the global carbon budget. Here, we assess the metabolic status and associated OC fluxes of a semi-enclosed Mediterranean bay supporting a meadow of Caulerpa prolifera. We test whether the EDOC pool is a significant component of the OC pool and associated fluxes in this ecosystem. The Bay of Portocolom was in net metabolic balance on a yearly basis, but heterotrophic during the summer months. Community respiration (CR) was positively correlated to C. prolifera biomass, while net community production (NCP) had a negative correlation. The benthic compartment represented, on average, 72.6 ± 5.2% of CR and 86.8 ± 4.5% of gross primary production (GPP). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) production peaked in summer and was always positive, with the incubations performed in the dark almost doubling the flux of those performed in the light. Exchangeable dissolved organic carbon (EDOC), however, oscillated between production and uptake, being completely recycled within the system and representing around 14% of the DOC flux. The pools of bottom and surface DOC were high for an oligotrophic environment, and were positively correlated to the pool of EDOC. Thus, despite being in metabolic balance, this ecosystem acted as a conduit for OC, as it is able to export OC to adjacent areas derived from allochtonous inputs during heterotrophic conditions. These inputs likely come from groundwater discharge, human activity in the watershed, delivered to the sediments through the high capacity of C. prolifera to remove particles from the water column, and from the air-water exchange of EDOC, demonstrating that these communities are a major contributor to the cycling of OC in coastal embayments.
Hypoxia is one of the common effects of eutrophication in coastal marine ecosystems and is becomi... more Hypoxia is one of the common effects of eutrophication in coastal marine ecosystems and is becoming an increasingly prevalent problem worldwide. The causes of hypoxia are associated with excess nutrient inputs from both point and non-point sources, although the response of coastal marine ecosystems is strongly modulated by physical processes such as stratification and mixing. Changes in climate, particularly temperature, may also affect the susceptibility of coastal marine ecosystems to hypoxia. Hypoxia is a particularly severe disturbance because it causes death of biota and catastrophic changes in the ecosystem. Bottom water oxygen deficiency not only influences the habitat of living resources but also the biogeochemical processes that control nutrient concentrations in the water column. Increased phosphorus fluxes from sediments into overlying waters occur with hypoxia. In addition, reductions in the ability of ecosystems to remove nitrogen through denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation may be related to hypoxia and could lead to acceleration in the rate of eutrophication. Three large coastal marine ecosystems (Chesapeake Bay, Northern Gulf of Mexico, and Danish Straits) all demonstrate thresholds whereby repeated hypoxic events have led to an increase in susceptibility of further hypoxia and accelerated eutrophication. Once hypoxia occurs, reoccurrence is likely and may be difficult to reverse. Therefore, elucidating ecosystem thresholds of hypoxia and linking them to nutrient inputs are necessary for the management of coastal marine ecosystems. Finally, projected increases in warming show an increase in the susceptibility of coastal marine ecosystems to hypoxia such that hypoxia will expand.
Hypoxia is emerging as a major threat to marine coastal biota. Predicting its occurrence and eluc... more Hypoxia is emerging as a major threat to marine coastal biota. Predicting its occurrence and elucidating the driving factors are essential to set successful management targets to avoid its occurrence. This study aims to elucidate the effects of warming on the likelihood of hypoxia. High-frequency dissolved oxygen measurements have been used to estimate gross primary production (GPP), net ecosystem production (NEP) and community respiration (CR) in a shallow macroalgae (Caulerpa prolifera) ecosystem in a highly human-influenced closed Mediterranean bay. Daily averaged GPP and CR ranged from 0 to 1,240.9 and 51.4 to 1,297.3 mmol O 2 m −2 day −1 , respectively. The higher GPP and CR were calculated for the same day, when daily averaged water temperature was 28.3 °C, and resulted in a negative NEP of −56.4 mmol O 2 m −2 day −1. The ecosystem was net heterotrophic during the studied period, probably subsidized by allochthonous organic inputs from ground waters and from the surrounding town and boating activity. Oxygen dynamics and metabolic rates strongly depend on water temperature, with lower oxygen content at higher temperatures. The probability of hypoxic conditions increased at a rate of 0.39 % °C −1 (±0.14 % °C −1). Global warming will increase the likelihood of hypoxia in the bay studied, as well as in other semi-enclosed bays.
The metabolism of the Arctic Ocean is marked by
extremely pronounced seasonality and spatial hete... more The metabolism of the Arctic Ocean is marked by extremely pronounced seasonality and spatial heterogeneity associated with light conditions, ice cover, water masses and nutrient availability. Here we report the marine planktonic metabolic rates (net community production, gross primary production and community respiration) along three different seasons of the year, for a total of eight cruises along the western sector of the European Arctic (Fram Strait – Svalbard region) in the Arctic Ocean margin: one at the end of 2006 (fall/winter), two in 2007 (early spring and summer), two in 2008 (early spring and summer), one in 2009 (late spring–early summer), one in 2010 (spring) and one in 2011 (spring). The results show that the metabolism of the western sector of the European Arctic varies throughout the year, depending mostly on the stage of bloom and water temperature. Here we report metabolic rates for the different periods, including the spring bloom, summer and the dark period, increasing considerably the empirical basis of metabolic rates in the Arctic Ocean, and especially in the European Arctic corridor. Additionally, a rough annual metabolic estimate for this area of the Arctic Ocean was calculated, resulting in a net community production of 108 g Cm−2 yr−1.
Increased anthropogenic pressures on coastal marine ecosystems in the last century are threatenin... more Increased anthropogenic pressures on coastal marine ecosystems in the last century are threatening their biodiversity and functioning. Global warming and increases in nutrient loadings are two major stressors affecting these systems. Global warming is expected to increase both atmospheric and water temperatures and increase precipitation and terrestrial runoff, further increasing organic matter and nutrient inputs to coastal areas. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations frequently exceed those of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in aquatic systems. Many components of the DON pool have been shown to supply nitrogen nutrition to phytoplankton and bacteria. Predictions of how global warming and eutrophication will affect metabolic rates and dissolved oxygen dynamics in the future are needed to elucidate their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Here, we experimentally determine the effects of simultaneous DON additions and warming on planktonic community metabolism in the Baltic Sea, the largest coastal area suffering from eutrophication-driven hypoxia. Both bacterioplankton community composition and metabolic rates changed in relation to temperature. DON additions from wastewater treatment plant effluents significantly increased the activation energies for community respiration and gross primary production. Activation energies for community respiration were higher than those for gross primary production. Results support the prediction that warming of the Baltic Sea will enhance planktonic respiration rates faster than it will for planktonic primary production. Higher increases in respiration rates than in production may lead to the depletion of the oxygen pool, further aggravating hypoxia in the Baltic Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea has been identified as one of the hotspots for climate change. Intense warm... more The Mediterranean Sea has been identified as one of the hotspots for climate change. Intense warming in the Mediterranean Sea may have strong implications for biological activity and ecosystem functioning. To elucidate the effects of warming on planktonic and benthic metabolism, we performed experiments under different increasing temperature regimes, ranging from three to six different temperatures. The lowest range of temperatures assessed was of 2.6 °C and the maximum was 7.5 °C. Our results suggest that a 6 °C warming of the Mediterranean waters may yield a mean increment in planktonic respiration rates of coastal communities of 24 %, higher than the mean increase expected for planktonic gross primary production (9 %). These results confirm earlier theories, and agree with previous experiments, of a higher increase in respiration rates than in primary production with warming, with the subsequent consequences for the carbon cycle, resulting in a negative feedback to climate warming, as ocean communities will capture less CO 2 .
The Arctic Ocean is the region on Earth supporting the steepest warming rate and is also particul... more The Arctic Ocean is the region on Earth supporting the steepest warming rate and is also particularly vulnerable due to the vanishing ice cover. Intense warming in the Arctic has strong implications for biological activity and the functioning of an Arctic Ocean deprived of ice cover in summer. We evaluated the impact of increasing temperature on respiration rates of surface marine planktonic communities in the European Arctic sector, a property constraining the future role of the Arctic Ocean in the CO 2 balance of the atmosphere. We performed experiments under four different temperature elevation regimes (in situ, ?2, ?4 and ?6°C above the temperature of the sampled water) during cruises conducted in the Fram Strait region and off Svalbard during late fall–early winter, spring and summer. During late fall– early winter, where only three different temperatures were used, no response to warming was observed, whereas respiration rates increased in response to warming in spring and summer, although with variable strength.
The effect of warming on the oxygen requirements and the survival of benthic organisms under hypo... more The effect of warming on the oxygen requirements and the survival of benthic organisms under hypoxia was tested using a meta-analysis of published results of experiments evaluating the effects of temperature on the median lethal time and median lethal concentration of benthic macrofauna under hypoxia. The meta-analysis confirmed that survival times under hypoxia were reduced by on average 74% and that median lethal concentration increased by on average 16% when marine benthic organisms were exposed to warmer temperatures. Warming reduced survival times of marine benthic macrofauna under hypoxia by a median of 3.95 AE 1.67 h 1C À1 and increased the oxygen thresholds for hypoxia-driven mortality by a median of 1.02 AE 0.15% saturation 1C À1 or 0.07 AE 0.01 mg O 2 L À1 1C À1. The corresponding Q 10 values averaged 3.01 AE 0.29 for the median survival time and 2.09 AE 0.20 for the median lethal oxygen concentration. Use of these Q 10 values predicts that the 4 1C warming expected during the 21st century will lead to survival times 35.6% lower under hypoxia and that the threshold oxygen concentrations for high mortality to occur will increase by, on average, 25.5% if bottom water temperature increased by 4 1C. Hence, ocean warming is expected to increase the vulnerability of benthic macrofauna to reduced oxygen concentrations and expand the area of coastal ecosystems affected by hypoxia.
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Papers by Raquel Vaquer-Sunyer
irradiance is insufficient to meet the carbon requirements of the system. Here, we conduct a 3 wk, in situ shading experiment (8 levels plus controls) to determine the threshold of irradiance for balanced metabolism in a shallow P. oceanica meadow and further assess the recovery of the system 1 wk later. Reduced light irradiance decreased the net community production of the meadow, which may turn negative (i.e. respiration exceeded gross community primary production) under 338 μE m−2 s−1. Shading throughout the experiment did not appear to cause sustained physiological damage to the system since values of net community production after the cessation of shading were similar to pre-experimental, ambient levels. Sediment acid volatile sulfide pools ranged between 0.002 and 0.058 mol m−2 across shading treatments, and the highest pools were observed in the most shaded sediments. At high light impairment, meristematic cell divisions were low, and carbohydrate content in young rhizomes decreased throughout the experiment. Eight days after the cessation of shading, reduced rhizome carbohydrate stores and elevated sediment sulfide levels still persisted in the previously intensively shaded areas. The present study provides evidence
of resistance and resilience of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to light impairment for short (3 wk) periods of time. Although the compensation irradiance of the system varied by ~2-fold, it provides a quantitative estimate of the irradiance threshold at which seagrass meadows may shift from being coastal carbon sinks to CO2 sources.
extremely pronounced seasonality and spatial heterogeneity
associated with light conditions, ice cover, water masses and
nutrient availability. Here we report the marine planktonic
metabolic rates (net community production, gross primary
production and community respiration) along three different
seasons of the year, for a total of eight cruises along the
western sector of the European Arctic (Fram Strait – Svalbard
region) in the Arctic Ocean margin: one at the end of
2006 (fall/winter), two in 2007 (early spring and summer),
two in 2008 (early spring and summer), one in 2009 (late
spring–early summer), one in 2010 (spring) and one in 2011
(spring). The results show that the metabolism of the western
sector of the European Arctic varies throughout the year,
depending mostly on the stage of bloom and water temperature.
Here we report metabolic rates for the different periods,
including the spring bloom, summer and the dark period, increasing
considerably the empirical basis of metabolic rates
in the Arctic Ocean, and especially in the European Arctic
corridor. Additionally, a rough annual metabolic estimate for
this area of the Arctic Ocean was calculated, resulting in a
net community production of 108 g Cm−2 yr−1.
irradiance is insufficient to meet the carbon requirements of the system. Here, we conduct a 3 wk, in situ shading experiment (8 levels plus controls) to determine the threshold of irradiance for balanced metabolism in a shallow P. oceanica meadow and further assess the recovery of the system 1 wk later. Reduced light irradiance decreased the net community production of the meadow, which may turn negative (i.e. respiration exceeded gross community primary production) under 338 μE m−2 s−1. Shading throughout the experiment did not appear to cause sustained physiological damage to the system since values of net community production after the cessation of shading were similar to pre-experimental, ambient levels. Sediment acid volatile sulfide pools ranged between 0.002 and 0.058 mol m−2 across shading treatments, and the highest pools were observed in the most shaded sediments. At high light impairment, meristematic cell divisions were low, and carbohydrate content in young rhizomes decreased throughout the experiment. Eight days after the cessation of shading, reduced rhizome carbohydrate stores and elevated sediment sulfide levels still persisted in the previously intensively shaded areas. The present study provides evidence
of resistance and resilience of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to light impairment for short (3 wk) periods of time. Although the compensation irradiance of the system varied by ~2-fold, it provides a quantitative estimate of the irradiance threshold at which seagrass meadows may shift from being coastal carbon sinks to CO2 sources.
extremely pronounced seasonality and spatial heterogeneity
associated with light conditions, ice cover, water masses and
nutrient availability. Here we report the marine planktonic
metabolic rates (net community production, gross primary
production and community respiration) along three different
seasons of the year, for a total of eight cruises along the
western sector of the European Arctic (Fram Strait – Svalbard
region) in the Arctic Ocean margin: one at the end of
2006 (fall/winter), two in 2007 (early spring and summer),
two in 2008 (early spring and summer), one in 2009 (late
spring–early summer), one in 2010 (spring) and one in 2011
(spring). The results show that the metabolism of the western
sector of the European Arctic varies throughout the year,
depending mostly on the stage of bloom and water temperature.
Here we report metabolic rates for the different periods,
including the spring bloom, summer and the dark period, increasing
considerably the empirical basis of metabolic rates
in the Arctic Ocean, and especially in the European Arctic
corridor. Additionally, a rough annual metabolic estimate for
this area of the Arctic Ocean was calculated, resulting in a
net community production of 108 g Cm−2 yr−1.