Linking Marine Plankton Ecosystems and Climate: A New Modeling Approach to the Warm Early Eocene Climate

Wilson, Jamie D.; Monteiro, Fanny M.; Schmidt, Daniela N.; Ward, Ben A.; Ridgwell, Andy

doi:10.1029/2018pa003374

Cited by 31 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 65 publications

(104 reference statements)

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“…For the latter, the preferred prey size range for a single Zooplankton size class is shown in red, while those of other size classes are shown in gray. After Wilson, Monteiro, Schmidt, Ward, and Ridgwell ()…”

Section: Model Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of marine nutrient abundance on early eukaryotic ecosystems

et al. 2020

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The rise of eukaryotes to ecological prominence represents one of the most dramatic shifts in the history of Earth's biosphere. However, there is an enigmatic temporal lag between the emergence of eukaryotic organisms in the fossil record and their much later ecological expansion. In parallel, there is evidence for a secular increase in the availability of the key macronutrient phosphorus (P) in Earth's oceans. Here, we use an Earth system model equipped with a size‐structured marine ecosystem to explore relationships between plankton size, trophic complexity, and the availability of marine nutrients. We find a strong dependence of planktonic ecosystem structure on ocean nutrient abundance, with a larger ocean nutrient inventory leading to greater overall biomass, broader size spectra, and increasing abundance of large Zooplankton. If existing estimates of Proterozoic marine nutrient levels are correct, our results suggest that increases in the ecological impact of eukaryotic algae and trophic complexity in eukaryotic ecosystems were directly linked to restructuring of the global P cycle associated with the protracted rise of surface oxygen levels. Our results thus suggest an indirect but potentially important mechanism by which ocean oxygenation may have acted to shape marine ecological function during late Proterozoic time.

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Section: Model Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of marine nutrient abundance on early eukaryotic ecosystems

et al. 2020

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“…Another important way to understand how phytoplankton communities in the NAP respond to climate change is through phytoplankton fossil records (Crampton et al, 2016). While limited to taxa with hard shells or coverings (e.g., diatoms, coccolithophores, dinoflagellate cysts), changes in their response to past warming conditions can provide an analog for present climate change (Wilson et al, 2018). Such studies could be essential to assess the natural variability of the NAP, as highlighted in recent studies (Houben et al, 2013;Crampton et al, 2016).…”

Section: Main Knowledge Gaps and Future Research Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Phytoplankton Communities Along the Northern Antarctic Peninsula: Causes, Impacts and Research Priorities

et al. 2020

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The Northern Antarctic Peninsula (NAP), located in West Antarctica, is amongst the most impacted regions by recent warming events. Its vulnerability to climate change has already led to an accumulation of severe changes along its ecosystems. This work reviews the current findings on impacts observed in phytoplankton communities occurring in the NAP, with a focus on its causes, consequences, and the potential research priorities toward an integrated comprehension of the physicalbiological coupling and climate perspective. Evident changes in phytoplankton biomass, community composition and size structure, as well as potential bottom-up impacts to the ecosystem are discussed. Surface wind, sea ice and meltwater dynamics, as key drivers of the upper layer structure, are identified as the leading factors shaping phytoplankton. Short-and long-term scenarios are suggested for phytoplankton communities in the NAP, both indicating a future increase of the importance of small flagellates at the expense of diatoms, with potential devastating impacts for the ecosystem. Five main research gaps in the current understanding of the phytoplankton response to climate change in the region are identified: (i) anthropogenic signal has yet to be disentangled from natural climate variability; (ii) the influence of small-scale ocean circulation processes on phytoplankton is poorly understood; (iii) the potential consequences to regional food webs must be clarified; (iv) the magnitude and risk of potential changes in phytoplankton composition is relatively unknown; and (v) a better understanding of phytoplankton physiological responses to changes in the environmental conditions is required. Future research directions, along with specific suggestions on how to follow them, are equally suggested. Overall, while the current

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“…[57]) and according to the scale considered [58]. Additionally, such variations might be difficult to constrain in the geological record without modelling—so far only available for a limited number of time-slices, such as at the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum [59,60].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms and drivers of belemnite body-size dynamics across the Pliensbachian–Toarcian crisis

et al. 2019

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Body-size reduction is considered an important response to current climate warming and has been observed during past biotic crises, including the Pliensbachian–Toarcian crisis, a second-order mass extinction. However, in fossil cephalopod studies, the mechanisms and their potential link with climate are rarely investigated and palaeobiological scales of organization are not usually differentiated. Here, we hypothesize that belemnites reduce their adult size across the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary warming event. Belemnite body-size dynamics across the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary in the Peniche section (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal) were analysed based on the newly collected field data. We disentangle the mechanisms and the environmental drivers of the size fluctuations observed from the individual to the assemblage scale. Despite the lack of a major taxonomic turnover, a 40% decrease in rostrum volume is observed across the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary, before the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event where belemnites go locally extinct. The pattern is mainly driven by a reduction in adult size of the two dominant species, Pseudohastites longiformis and Passaloteuthis bisulcata. Belemnite-size distribution is best correlated with fluctuations in a palaeotemperature proxy (stable oxygen isotopes); however, potential indirect effects of volcanism and carbon cycle perturbations may also play a role. This highlights the complex interplay between environmental stressors (warming, deoxygenation, nutrient input) and biotic variables (productivity, competition, migration) associated with these hyperthermal events in driving belemnite body-size.

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Linking Marine Plankton Ecosystems and Climate: A New Modeling Approach to the Warm Early Eocene Climate

Cited by 31 publications

References 65 publications

The impact of marine nutrient abundance on early eukaryotic ecosystems

The impact of marine nutrient abundance on early eukaryotic ecosystems

Changes in Phytoplankton Communities Along the Northern Antarctic Peninsula: Causes, Impacts and Research Priorities

Mechanisms and drivers of belemnite body-size dynamics across the Pliensbachian–Toarcian crisis

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