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Advection by ocean currents modifies phytoplankton size structure

Joan S. Font-Muñoz, Antoni Jordi, Idan Tuval, Jorge Arrieta, Sílvia Anglès, Gotzon Basterretxea
Published 3 May 2017.DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0046
Joan S. Font-Muñoz
Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
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  • For correspondence: jfont@imedea.uib-csic.es
Antoni Jordi
Davidson Laboratory, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, USA
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Idan Tuval
Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
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Jorge Arrieta
Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
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Sílvia Anglès
Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
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Gotzon Basterretxea
Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
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Abstract

Advection by ocean currents modifies phytoplankton size structure at small scales (1–10 cm) by aggregating cells in different regions of the flow depending on their size. This effect is caused by the inertia of the cells relative to the displaced fluid. It is considered that, at larger scales (greater than or equal to 1 km), biological processes regulate the heterogeneity in size structure. Here, we provide observational evidence of heterogeneity in phytoplankton size structure driven by ocean currents at relatively large scales (1–10 km). Our results reveal changes in the phytoplankton size distribution associated with the coastal circulation patterns. A numerical model that incorporates the inertial properties of phytoplankton confirms the role of advection on the distribution of phytoplankton according to their size except in areas with enhanced nutrient inputs where phytoplankton dynamics is ruled by other processes. The observed preferential concentration mechanism has important ecological consequences that range from the phytoplankton level to the whole ecosystem.

Footnotes

  • Electronic supplementary material is available online at https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3744341.

  • Received January 23, 2017.
  • Accepted April 6, 2017.
  • © 2017 The Author(s)
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May 2017
Volume 14
, issue 130
Journal of The Royal Society Interface: 14 (130)
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Keywords

plankton
coastal circulation
cell size distribution
preferential concentration
inertial properties
Mediterranean Sea
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Advection by ocean currents modifies phytoplankton size structure
Joan S. Font-Muñoz, Antoni Jordi, Idan Tuval, Jorge Arrieta, Sílvia Anglès, Gotzon Basterretxea
J. R. Soc. Interface 2017 14 20170046; DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0046. Published 3 May 2017
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Research article:

Advection by ocean currents modifies phytoplankton size structure

Joan S. Font-Muñoz, Antoni Jordi, Idan Tuval, Jorge Arrieta, Sílvia Anglès, Gotzon Basterretxea
J. R. Soc. Interface 2017 14 20170046; DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0046. Published 3 May 2017

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