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The influence of Phaeocystis globosa on microscale spatial patterns of chlorophyll a and bulk-phase seawater viscosity

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Phaeocystis, major link in the biogeochemical cycling of climate-relevant elements

Abstract

A two-dimensional microscale (5 cm resolution) sampler was used over the course of a phytoplankton spring bloom dominated by Phaeocystis globosa to investigate the structural properties of chlorophyll a and seawater excess viscosity distributions. The microscale distribution patterns of chlorophyll a and excess viscosity were never uniform nor random. Instead they exhibited different types and levels of aggregated spatial patterns that were related to the dynamics of the bloom. The chlorophyll a and seawater viscosity correlation patterns were also controlled by the dynamics of the bloom with positive and negative correlations before and after the formation of foam in the turbulent surf zone. The ecological relevance and implications of the observed patchiness and biologically induced increase in seawater viscosity are discussed and the combination of the enlarged colonial form and mucus secretion is suggested as a competitive advantage of P. globosa in highly turbulent environments where this species flourishes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS FRE 2816 ELICO, Station Marine de Wimereux, University of Sciences and Technologies of Lille-Lille 1, 28 avenue Foch, 62930, Wimereux, France

    L. Seuront & C. Lacheze

  2. School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia

    L. Seuront, M. J. Doubell, K. Newton & J. G. Mitchell

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachussets Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307, USA

    J. R. Seymour

  4. Marine Biology Laboratory, Catholic University of Louvain, Batiment Kellner, 3 Place Croix du Sud, Louvain-La-Neuve, 1348, Belgium

    V. Van Dongen-Vogels

  5. Department of Marine Biology, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, Haren, 9750AA, The Netherlands

    A. C. Alderkamp

Authors
  1. L. Seuront
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  2. C. Lacheze
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  3. M. J. Doubell
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  4. J. R. Seymour
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  5. V. Van Dongen-Vogels
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  6. K. Newton
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  7. A. C. Alderkamp
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  8. J. G. Mitchell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Seuront .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands

    M. A. van Leeuwe , J. Stefels  & W. W. C. Gieskes ,  & 

  2. Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnment, Gif sur Yvette, France

    S. Belviso

  3. Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium

    C. Lancelot

  4. Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, GA, USA

    P. G. Verity

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Seuront, L. et al. (2007). The influence of Phaeocystis globosa on microscale spatial patterns of chlorophyll a and bulk-phase seawater viscosity. In: van Leeuwe, M.A., Stefels, J., Belviso, S., Lancelot, C., Verity, P.G., Gieskes, W.W.C. (eds) Phaeocystis, major link in the biogeochemical cycling of climate-relevant elements. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6214-8_13

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