Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phytoplankton biomass and size fractions in surface waters of the Australian sector of the southern ocean

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Oceanography Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We collected surface water along the 142nd E meridian from Tasmania to Antarctica in December 1999. We measured temperature, salinity and total chlorophyll a; additionally, we collected suspended particle size fractions and used fluorometric analysis to determine the quantity of chlorophyll a in each of four cell size classes: picoplankton (<3 µm), two nanoplankton fractions (3–10 µm and 10–20 µm) and microplankton (> 20 µm). Changes in temperature and salinity show that we crossed 6 water masses separated by 5 fronts. We found low abundance (<0.2 mg m−3) of chlorophyll in all size classes, with the exception of higher values near the continent (0.2 to 0.4 mg m−3). Lowest chlorophyll values (<0.1 mg m−3) were found in the Polar Frontal Zone (51° to 54°S). Microplankton made up the largest portion of total chlorophyll throughout most of the region. We conclude that biomass of all phytoplankton fractions, especially pico-and nanoplankton, was constrained by limiting factors, most probably iron, throughout the region and that ecosystem dynamics within a zone are not circumpolar but are regionalized within sectors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Belkin, I. and A. Gordon (1996): Southern Ocean fronts from the Greenwich Meridian to Tasmania. J. Geophys. Res., 101, 3675–3696.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, P. W. (2002): Environmental factors controlling phytoplankton processes in the Southern Ocean. J. Phycol., 38, 844–861.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, P. W. and E. R. Abraham (2001): Iron mediated changes in phytoplankton photosynthetic competence during SOIREE. Deep-Sea Res. II, 48, 2425–2438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, P. W. and C. S. Law (2001): The Southern Ocean Iron Release Experiment (SOIREE)—introduction and summary. Deep-Sea Res. II, 48, 2529–2550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, P. W., A. Watson, C. Law, E. Abraham, T. Trull, R. Murdoch, D. Bakker, R. Bowie, K. O. Buesseler, H. Chang, M. Charette, P. Croot, K. Downing, R. Frew, M. Gall, M. Hadfield, J. Hall, M. Harvey, G. Jameson, L. LaRoche, M. Liddicoat, R. Ling, M. T. Maldonado, R. M. McKay, S. Nodder, S. Pickmere, R. Pridmore, S. Rintoul, K. Safi, P. Sutton, R. Strzepek, K. Tanneberger, S. Turner, A. Waite and J. Zeldis (2000): A mesoscale phytoplankton bloom in the polar Southern Ocean stimulated by iron fertilization. Nature, 407, 695–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Baar, H. J. W., J. T. M. De Jong, D. C. M. Bakker, B. M. Löscher, C. Veth, U. Bathmann and V. Smetacek (1995): Importance of iron for plankton blooms and carbon dioxide drawdown in the Southern Ocean. Nature, 373, 412–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Detmer, A. E. and U. V. Bathmann (1997): Distribution patterns of autotrophic pico-and nanoplankton and their relative contribution to algal biomass during spring in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Deep-Sea Res. II, 44, 299–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sayed, S. Z. (1990): Plankton. p. 207–241. In Antarctic Sector of the Pacific, ed. by G. P. Glasby, Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukuchi, M. (1980): Phytoplankton chlorophyll stocks in the Antarctic Ocean. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 36, 73–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, A. L., H. W. Taylor and D. T. Georgi (1977): Antarctic oceanographic zonation. p 45–73. In Polar Oceans, ed. by M. J. Dunbar, Arctic Inst. N. America, Calgary.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, D.-H. and M. M. Takahashi (2001): Chlorophyll a biomass of netplankton in surface waters in the Pacific Sector of the Southern Ocean in austral summer. J. Oceanogr., 57, 581–592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, T. J. (1942): Phytoplankton periodicity in the Antarctic surface waters. Discovery Rep., 21, 261–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewes, C. D., O. Holm-Hansen and E. Sakshaug (1985): Alternate carbon pathways at lower trophic levels in the antarctic food web. p. 277–283. In Antarctic Nutrient Cycles and Food Webs, ed. by W. R. Siegfried, P. R. Condy and R. M. Laws, Springer, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heywood, R. B. and T. M. Whitaker (1984): The Antarctic marine flora. p. 373–419. In Antarctic Ecology, 2, ed. by R. M. Laws, Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirawake, T., T. Odate and M. Fukuchi (2005): Long-term variation of surface phytoplankton chlorophyll a in the Southern Ocean during 1965–2002. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L05606, doi:10.1029/2004GL021394.

  • Hoppema, M., H. J. de Baar, E. Fahrbach, H. H. Hellmer and B. Klein (2003): Substantial advective iron loss diminishes phytoplankton production in the Antarctic Zone. Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 17, 1025–1036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchins, D. A. (1995): Iron and the marine plankton community. p. 1–48. In Progress in Phycol. Res., 11, Bio Press, Bristol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishii, M., T. Suzuki and M. Fukuchi (1996): Report on surface phytoplankton pigments measured during the JARE-34 cruise to Syowa Station, Antarctica, November 1992 to March 1993, 218. Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • JGOFS (1994): Measurement of chlorophyll a and phaeopigments by fluorometric analysis. Chapter 14. In Protocols for the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) Core Measurements, IOC Manuals and Guides No. 29.

  • Jones, E. P. J., D. M. Nelson and P. Treguer (1990): Chemical oceanography. p. 407–476. In Polar Oceanography, ed. by W. O. Smith, Jr., Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawachi, M., T. Suzuki and M. Fukuchi (1996): Report on phytoplankton pigments measured during the JARE-35 cruise to Syowa Station, Antarctica, November 1993 to March 1994, 219. Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knox, G. A. (1970): Antarctic marine ecosystems. p. 69–93. In Antarctic Ecology, ed. by M. W. Holdgate, Academic Press, London, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knox, G. A. (1994): The Biology of the Southern Ocean. p. 13–38, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konno, T., T. Suzuki and M. Fukuchi (1996): Report on phytoplankton pigments measured during the JARE-31 cruise to Syowa Station, Antarctica, November 1989 to March 1990, 215. Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopczynska, E. E., F. Dehairs, M. Elskens and S. Wright (2001): Phytoplankton and microzooplankton variability between the Subtropical and Polar Fronts south of Australia: Thriving under regenerative and new production in late summer. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 31597–31609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramochi, T., T. Suzuki and M. Fukuchi (1996): Report on phytoplankton pigments measured during the JARE-32 cruise to Syowa Station, Antarctica, November 1990 to March 1991, 216. Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landry, M. R., K. E. Selph, S. L. Brown, M. R. Abbott, C. I. Measures, S. Vink, C. B. Allen, A. Calbet, S. Christensen and H. Nolla (2002): Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton in the Antarctic Polar Front region at 170°W. Deep-Sea Res. II, 49, 1843–1865.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longhurst, A. (1998): Ecological Geography of the Sea. p. 339–356, Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  • Löscher, B. M., H. J. W. de Baar, J. T. M. de Jong, C. Veth and F. Dehairs (1997): The distribution of Fe in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Deep-Sea Res. II, 44, 143–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchant, H. J. and E. Murphy (1994): Interactions at the base of the Antarctic food web. p 267–285. In Southern Ocean Ecology: the BIOMASS Perspective, ed. by S. Z. El-Sayed, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. K. and M. R. Abbott (2000): Phytoplankton chlorophyll distributions and primary production in the Southern Ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 105, 28709–28722.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odate, T. and M. Fukuchi (1995): Distribution and community structure of picophytoplankton in the Southern Ocean during late austral summer of 1992. Proc. NIPR Symp. Polar Biol., Nat. Inst. Polar Res., 8, 86–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oikawa, K. and K. Iwamoto (1999): Oceanographic data of the 38th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition from November 1996 to March 1997, 246. Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oikawa, K. and Y. Miura (1999): Oceanographic data of the 37th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition from November 1995 to March 1996, 245. Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orsi, T., T. Whitworth, III and W. D. Nolin (1995): On the meridional extent and fronts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Deep-Sea Res., 42, 641–673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. R., Y. Maita and C. M. Lalli (1984): A Manual of Chemical and Biological Methods for Seawater Analysis. p. 101–112, Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peeken, I. (1997): Photosynthetic pigment fingerprints as indicators of phytoplankton biomass and development in different water masses of the Southern Ocean during austral spring. Deep-Sea Res. II, 44, 261–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollard, R. T., M. I. Lucas and J. F. Read (2002): Physical controls on biochemical zonation in the Southern Ocean. Deep-Sea Res. II, 49, 3289–3305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popp, B. N., T. Trull, F. Kenig, S. G. Wakeham, T. M. Rust, B. Tilbrook, F. B. Griffiths, S. W. Wright, H. J. Marchant, R. R. Bidigare and E. A. Laws (1999): Controls on the carbon isotopic composition of Southern Ocean phytoplankton. Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 13, 827–843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quéguiner, B., P. Tréguer, I. Peeken and R. Scharek (1997): Biogeochemical dynamics and the silicon cycle in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Deep-Sea Res. II, 44, 69–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rintoul, S. R. and T. W. Trull (2001): Seasonal evolution of the mixed layer in the Subantarctic Zone south of Australia. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 31447–31462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sambrotto, R. N., A. Matsuda, R. Villancourt, M. Brown, C. Langdon, S. S. Jacobs and C. Measures (2003): Summer plankton production and nutrient consumption patterns in the Mertz Glacier Region of East Antarctica. Deep-Sea Res. II, 50, 1393–1414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimazaki, T. and H. Nakuchi (2002): Oceanographic data of the 41st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition from November 1999 to March 2000, 265. Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smetacek, V., H. J. W. de Baar, U. V. Bathmann, K. Lochte and M. M. Rutgers van der Loeff (1997): Ecology and biochemistry of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during austral spring: a summary of Southern Ocean JGOFS cruise ANT X/6 of R.V. Polarstern. Deep-Sea Res. II, 44, 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, C. S., K. R. Arrigo, C. R. McClain, J. C. Comiso and J. Firestone (1993): Distributions of phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean. Science, 262, 1832–1837.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sunda, W. G. and S. A. Huntsman (1997): Interrelated influence of iron, light, and cell size on marine phytoplankton growth. Nature, 390, 389–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, T. and M. Fukuchi (1997): Chlorophyll a concentration measured with a continuous water monitoring system during a cruise to Syowa Station, Antarctica, JARE-27 (1985/86) to JARE-36 (1993/94). Nat. Inst. Polar Res., Tokyo, CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tréguer, P. and G. Jacques (1992): Dynamics of nutrients and phytoplankton, and fluxes of carbon nitrogen and silicon in the Antarctic Ocean. Polar Biol., 12, 149–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trull, T., S. R. Rintoul, M. Hadfield and E. R. Abraham (2001): Circulation and seasonal evolution of polar waters south of Australia: Implications for iron fertilization of the Southern Ocean. Deep-Sea Res. II, 48, 2439–2466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X., R. J. Matear and T. W. Trull (2003): Nutrient utilization ratios in the Polar Frontal Zone in the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean: A model. Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 17, 1009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, W. B. and R. G. Peterson (1996): An Antarctic circumpolar wave in surface pressure, wind, temperature and sea-ice extent. Nature, 380, 699–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, S. W., D. P. Thomas, H. J. Marchant, H. W. Higgins, M. D. Mackey and D. J. Mackey (1996): Analysis of phytoplankton of the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean: comparisons of microscopy and size frequency data with interpretations of pigment HPLC data using the ‘CHEMTAX’ matrix factorisation program. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 144, 285–298.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Austin E. Lathrop High School, 901 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, U.S.A.

    Wendy Ehnert

  2. Institute of Marine Science, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, U.S.A.

    C. Peter McRoy

Authors
  1. Wendy Ehnert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Peter McRoy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Peter McRoy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ehnert, W., McRoy, C.P. Phytoplankton biomass and size fractions in surface waters of the Australian sector of the southern ocean. J Oceanogr 63, 179–187 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-007-0020-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-007-0020-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation