Interannual variability of the early summer circulation around the Balearic Islands: Driving factors and potential effects on the marine ecosystem

Balbín, Rosa; López-Jurado, J.L.; Flexas, María del Mar; Reglero, Patricia; Vélez-Velchí, P.; González-Pola, César; Rodrı́guez, J.M.; García, A.; Alemany, F.

doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2013.07.004

Cited by 82 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Our results suggest a tight relationship of Synechococcus abundance with salinity, indicating higher abundances at the new Atlantic water mass and lower at the resident one, but no influence on abundance related to the frontal structure. According to the Chl a and nutrient concentration measurements, the haline front studied did not involve water enrichment; hence, it mainly worked as a physical barrier between the water masses, as was observed by Balbín et al (2014). The higher abundances in the more oligotrophic new Atlantic water mass affirm the general observations of picophytoplankton proliferations in more oligotrophic waters (Agawin et al, 1998;Uysal, 2006;Cerino et al, 2012) and allow us to conclude that the mesoscale processes presumably dictate the prokaryotic picophytoplankton distribution and the autotrophic biomass availability in this region.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Prokaryotic picoplankton spatial distribution during summer in a haline front in the Balearic Sea, Western Mediterranean

Mena¹,

Reglero²,

Ferriol

et al. 2016

Hydrobiologia

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In oligotrophic regions, picophytoplankton can play a key role in total carbon production and energy transfer. Since the mesoscale hydrographic variability can influence the resource availability and therefore the biological communities, here we studied the linkage between hydrography, resource supply, abundance, and biomass contribution of prokaryotic picoplankton in the south Balearic Sea during the stratified season. The sampling area covered the confluence of two different water masses, the fresher new Atlantic water, and the saltier resident Atlantic water. Our results showed higher Synechococcus abundances in the more oligotrophic new Atlantic water mass and suggest that the spatial patterns of prokaryotic picophytoplankton are dictated by the mesoscale processes in this region. The summer stratification condition separated clearly the surface mixed layer (ML) from the deep layer (DL); our results support different limiting factors for picophytoplankton in the two layers: nutrient and light availability in the ML and DL, respectively. We also obtained no significant difference in the Synechococcus biomass contribution to total autotrophic biomass within the water column, but higher contribution in the new Atlantic water mass. These results demonstrate the general importance of picophytoplankton as carbon producers in oligotrophic waters and particularly their variability as biomass source at the mesoscale.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Prokaryotic picoplankton spatial distribution during summer in a haline front in the Balearic Sea, Western Mediterranean

Mena¹,

Reglero²,

Ferriol

et al. 2016

Hydrobiologia

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“…Dynamic height was calculated by vertical integration of the specific volume, using 600 m as the level of no motion (Pinot et al, 1995), and was used to estimate the geostrophic velocities. These velocities were obtained by the first-derivative of the dynamic height profiles objectively analyzed onto a regular grid (see Balbín et al (2013), for more details on the interpolation method) and were used as a proxy of current intensity close to fronts due to the confluence of water masses of different origins. Maps of hydrographic variables were obtained from an objective analysis on to a 3 9 3 nm regular grid by using minimum error variance methods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of contrasting oceanographic conditions on the spatiotemporal distribution of Mediterranean cephalopod paralarvae

et al. 2014

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Cephalopods are sensitive to environmental conditions due to their fast growth rates and short life cycles, being thus considered good ecological indicators. Here, we analyzed western Mediterranean cephalopod paralarvae communities during two consecutive summers (2004 and 2005) characterized by contrasting oceanographic conditions. Our main aim was to determine to what extent such contrasting scenarios affected the spatial distribution of the cephalopod early life stages and decipher the main environmental factors affecting each particular taxon. The contrasting oceanographic conditions during 2004 and 2005 included differences in the shape and location of a regional frontal system, which brought about differences in the sea circulation and the temperature regime. Such contrasting scenarios were reflected in the spatial distribution and the frequencies of appearance of both the whole community and the individual taxa. There was not any major factor affecting most taxa equally, which points to differences in species sensitivity to external conditions. Moreover, our results evidenced that paralarvae populations were more influenced by regional sea salinity and temperature than by mesoscale hydrographic features. Our study reveals that moderate changes in sea temperature have a major effect on the presence of paralarvae populations, which has profound implications in the context of the current global warming.

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“…Wavelet-based cluster analysis found two separate groups congruent with known hydrographic regions to the north and south of the archipelago. Oceanographic processes in each hydrographic region have distinct influences on the living resources in the ecosystem (Balbín et al, 2014;Guijarro et al, 2008;Hidalgo et al, 2008). Regional dynamics of red shrimp around the Balearic Islands are influenced by the inter-annual variability of intermediate and deep-water masses that affect the spatial distribution of both juveniles and adults .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal variation of seasonal synchrony in the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus in the Western Mediterranean

Hidalgo

Rueda

Molinero

et al. 2015

Journal of Marine Systems

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Interannual variability of the early summer circulation around the Balearic Islands: Driving factors and potential effects on the marine ecosystem

Cited by 82 publications

References 30 publications

Prokaryotic picoplankton spatial distribution during summer in a haline front in the Balearic Sea, Western Mediterranean

Prokaryotic picoplankton spatial distribution during summer in a haline front in the Balearic Sea, Western Mediterranean

Effects of contrasting oceanographic conditions on the spatiotemporal distribution of Mediterranean cephalopod paralarvae

Spatial and temporal variation of seasonal synchrony in the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus in the Western Mediterranean

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