Glacial influence on the composition and diversity of the marine phytoplankton community in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Climate change has contributed to rapid glacier retreat in the West Antarctic Peninsula, with potential implications for marine ecosystems, particularly phytoplankton communities. In this study, we examined the influence of glacier proximity on phytoplankton composition in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica, during the austral summer of 2020. Twelve water sampling stations were established that were distributed at various distances from the glacier front to collect water samples at 3 depths to quantitatively analyze phytoplankton. The community in all stations was found to be dominated by nanoflagellates (<20 µm) (95.5%), followed by diatoms (4.02%), and finally, dinoflagellates (0.47%). The diversity index (H') ranged from 0.07 to 1.04 bits·cell–1, with the highest indices observed at stations closer to the glacier fronts and the one closest to the coast (<3 km). Based on phytoplankton community composition, 3 clusters were identified: (1) the station closest to the coast, (2) stations located between 0.66 and 1.12 km from the glacier front, and (3) stations between 2.61 and 11.10 km from the glacier front. Overall, diversity exhibited a fourth-degree polynomial relationship (R2 = 0.35) with glacier distance. Therefore, it can be concluded that the composition of marine phytoplankton varies based on its proximity to glaciers in Admiralty Bay.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an open access article distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, which allows you to share and adapt the work, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Figures, tables and other elements in the article are included in the article’s CC BY 4.0 license, unless otherwise indicated. The journal title is protected by copyrights and not subject to this license. Full license deed can be viewed here.
Metrics
References
Allen CS, Weich ZC. 2022. Variety and distribution of diatom-based sea ice proxies in antarctic marine sediments of the past 2000 years. Geosci. 12(8):282. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12080282 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12080282
Arimitsu ML, Piatt JF, Madison EN, Conaway JS, Hillgruber N. 2012. Oceanographic gradients and seabird prey community dynamics in glacial fjords. Fish Oceanogr. 21(2–3):148-169. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2419.2012.00616.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2419.2012.00616.x
Bae H, Ahn IY, Park J, Song SJ, Noh J, Kim H, Khim JS. 2021. Shift in polar benthic community structure in a fast retreating glacial area of Marian Cove, West Antarctica. Sci Rep. 11(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80636-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80636-z
Balech E. 1944. Contribucion al conocimiento del plancton de Lennox y Cabo de Hornos. Physis. 19:423-446.
Balech E. 1976. Illustrated Key to Antarctic Dinoflagellates. Publ Inst Antártico Argentino. 11:1-99.
Battarbee RW. 1986. Diatom analysis. In: Berglund BE (eds.), Handbook of Holocene palaeoecology and palaeohydrology. Chichester (UK): Wiley. p. 527-570.
Baylón M, Hernández-Becerril D, Indacochea A, Purca S. 2019. Variabilidad espacio-temporal del fitoplancton de la ensenada Mackellar, Bahía Almirantazgo, Isla Rey Jorge, Antártida, durante el verano austral 2012/2013. Rev Biol Mar Oceanogr. 54(2):151-165. https://doi.org/10.22370/rbmo.2019.54.2.1809 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22370/rbmo.2019.54.2.1809
Bianchi F, Boldrin A, Cioce F, Dieckmann G, Kuosa H, Larsson AM, Nöthig E-M, Sehlstedt P-I, Socal G, Syvertsen EE. 1992. Phytoplankton distribution in relation to sea ice, hydrography and nutrients in the northwestern Weddell Sea in early spring 1988 during EPOS. Polar Biol. 12:225-235. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238264 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77595-6_26
Biggs TEG, Alvarez-Fernandez S, Evans C, Mojica KDA, Rozema PD, Venables HJ, Pond DW, Brussaard CPD. 2019. Antarctic phytoplankton community composition and size structure: importance of ice type and temperature as regulatory factors. Polar Biol. 42(11):1997-2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-019-02576-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-019-02576-3
Biggs TEG, Rozema PD, Evans C, Timmermans KR, Meredith MP, Pond DW, Brussaard CPD. 2022. Control of Antarctic phytoplankton community composition and standing stock by light availability. Polar Biol. 45(11):1635-1653. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03094-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03094-5
Bonicelli PJ, López PD, Ochoa LN, Shreeve RL. 2008. Fitoplancton y las masas de agua del estrecho de bransfield y la Isla Elefante durante el verano austral del 2006 zooplankton community structure and its association with the phytoplankton and water masses from the bransfield strait and Elephant Island Du. Ecol Apl. 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21704/rea.v7i1-2.371
Bown J, Van Haren H, Meredith MP, Venables HJ, Laan P, Brearley JA, de Baar HJW. 2018. Evidences of strong sources of DFe and DMn in Ryder Bay, Western Antarctic Peninsula. Philos Trans R Soc A Math Phys Eng Sci. 376(2122). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2017.0172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2017.0172
Boyd PW, Jickells T, Law CS, Blain S, Boyle EA, Buesseler KO, Coale KH, Cullen JJ, De Baar HJW, Follows M, et al. 2007. Mesoscale iron enrichment experiments 1993-2005: Synthesis and future directions. Science. 315(5812):612-617. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1131669 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1131669
Brearley JA, Meredith MP, Naveira Garabato AC, Venables HJ, Inall ME. 2017. Controls on turbulent mixing on the West Antarctic Peninsula shelf. Deep Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr. 139(2017):18-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.02.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.02.011
Cermeño P, Teixeira IG, Branco M, Figueiras FG, Marañón E. 2014. Sampling the limits of species richness in marine phytoplankton communities. J Plankton Res. 36(4):1135-1139. https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbu033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbu033
Deppeler SL, Davidson AT. 2017. Southern ocean phytoplankton in a changing climate. Front Mar Sci. 4(FEB). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00040
Ducklow HW, Baker K, Martinson DG, Quetin LB, Ross RM, Smith RC, Stammerjohn SE, Vernet M, Fraser W. 2007. Marine pelagic ecosystems: The West Antarctic Peninsula. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci. 362(1477):67-94. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2006.1955 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2006.1955
Espino M, Ayón P, Cornejo R, Alarcón J, Vásquez L, Quiñones J, Chang F, Goya E, Villegas P, Velazco F, et al. 2016. Ecosistema marino del Estrecho de Bransfield, Bahía Almirantazgo y alrededores de las Islas Joinville y Elefante. ANTAR XXII, 2014. Boletín Inst del Mar del Perú. 31(2):229-294. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29957.96487
Estrada M, Delgado M. 1990. Summer phytoplankton distributions in the Weddell Sea. Polar Biol. 10(6):441-449. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233692 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233692
Etherington LL, Hooge PN, Hooge ER, Hill DF. 2007. Oceanography of Glacier Bay, Alaska: Implications for biological patterns in a glacial fjord estuary. Estuaries Coasts. 30(6):927-944. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02841386 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02841386
Frenguelli J. 1943. XVIII Contribución al conocimiento de las diatomeas argentinas. Diatomeas de las Orcadas del Sur. Rev del Mus La Plata Nueva Ser Sección Botánica. 5(21):221-265.
Frenguelli J, Orlando HA. 1958. Diatomeas y Silicoflagelados del Sector Antartico Sudamericano. Pub N° 5. Buenos Aires (Argentina): Inst Antártico Argentino.13-191 p.
Fuentes V, Alurralde G, Meyer B, Aguirre GE, Canepa A, Wölfl AC, Hass HC, Williams GN, Schloss IR. 2016. Glacial melting: An overlooked threat to Antarctic krill. Sci Rep. 6 (December 2015):1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep27234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep27234
Garcia MD, Fernández Severini MD, Spetter C, López Abbate MC, Tartara MN, Nahuelhual EG, Marcovecchio JE, Schloss IR, Hoffmeyer MS. 2019. Effects of glacier melting on the planktonic communities of two Antarctic coastal areas (Potter Cove and Hope Bay) in summer. Reg Stud Mar Sci. 30:100731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100731 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100731
Garcia MD, Hoffmeyer MS, López-Abbate MC, Barría de Cao MS, Pettigrosso RE, Almandoz GO, Hernando MP, Schloss IR. 2016. Micro- and mesozooplankton responses during two contrasting summers in a coastal Antarctic environment. Polar Biol. 39(1):123-137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1678-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1678-z
Garrison DL. 1991. Antarctic sea ice biota. Integr Comp Biol. 31(1):17-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/31.1.17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/31.1.17
Gleitz M, Grossmann S, Scharekm R, Smetacek V. 1996. Ecology of diatom and bacterial assemblages in water associated with melting summer sea ice in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Antarct Sci. 8(2):135-146. https://doi.org/10.1017/s095410209600020x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410209600020X
Hasle GR, Syvertsen EE. 1997. Marine Diatoms. In: Identifying Marine Phytoplankton. San Diego (USA): Academics Press. p. 5-385. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012693018-4/50004-5
Hegseth EN, Von Quillfeldt CH. 2002. Low phytoplankton biomass and ice algal blooms in the Weddell Sea during the ice-filled summer of 1997. Antarct Sci. 14(3):231-243. https://doi.org/10.1017/s095410200200007x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200200007X
Hobday AJ, Alexander LV, Perkins SE, Smale DA, Straub SC, Oliver ECJ, Benthuysen JA, Burrows MT, Donat MG, Feng M, et al. 2016. A hierarchical approach to defining marine heatwaves. Prog Oceanogr. 141:227-238. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2015.12.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2015.12.014
Jeon M, Iriarte JL, Yang EJ, Park J, Alves-de-Souza C, Park SJ. 2023. Importance of nanophytoplankton biomass during summer 2019 in a retreating marine-terminating glacier-fjord system, Marian Cove, West Antarctica (62°S). Front Mar Sci. 10(August):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1174722 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1174722
Kang SH, Kang JS, Lee S, Chung KH, Kim D, Park MG. 2001. Antarctic phytoplankton assemblages in the marginal ice zone of the northwestern Weddell Sea. J Plankton Res. 23(4):333-352. https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/23.4.333 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/23.4.333
Kasyan VV, Bitiutskii DG, Mishin AV, Zuev OA, Murzina SA, Sapozhnikov PV, Kalinina OY, Syomin VL, Kolbasova GD, Voronin VP, et al. 2022. Composition and Distribution of Plankton Communities in the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean. Diversity. 14(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110923 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110923
Kim DU, Khim JS, Ahn IY. 2021. Patterns, drivers and implications of ascidian distributions in a rapidly deglaciating fjord, King George Island, West Antarctic Peninsula. Ecol Indic. 125(February):107467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107467 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107467
Knox GA. 2007. Biology of the Southern Ocean. 2nd ed. Boca Raton (USA): CRC Press. 621 p.
Kopczynska EE. 1992. Dominance of microflagellates over diatoms in the Antarctic areas of deep vertical mixing and krill concentrations. J Plankton Res. 14(8):1031-1054. https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/14.8.1031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/14.8.1031
Kopczyńska EE. 2008. Phytoplankton variability in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands: Six years of monitoring. Polish Polar Res. 29(2):117-139.
Lange PK, Ligowski R, Tenenbaum DR. 2018. Phytoplankton in the embayments of King George Island (Antarctic Peninsula): a review with emphasis on diatoms. Polar Rec (Gr Brit). 54(2):158-175. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247418000232 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247418000232
Lange PK, Tenenbaum DR, Tavano VM, Paranhos R, De Siqueira Campos L. 2014. Shifts in microphytoplankton species and cell size at Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. Antarct Sci. 27(3):225-239. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102014000571 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102014000571
Latorre MP, Iachetti CM, Schloss IR, Antoni J, Malits A, de la Rosa F, De Troch M, Garcia MD, Flores-Melo X, Romero SI, et al. 2023. Summer heatwaves affect coastal Antarctic plankton metabolism and community structure. J Exp Mar Bio Ecol. 567(October):20-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2023.151926 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2023.151926
De Lima DT, Moser GAO, Piedras FR, da Cunha LC, Tenenbaum DR, Tenório MMB, de Campos MVPB, Cornejo T de O, Barrera-Alba JJ. 2019. Abiotic changes driving microphytoplankton functional diversity in Admiralty Bay, King George Island (Antarctica). Front Mar Sci. 6(OCT):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00638 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00638
Lund JWG, Kipling C, Le Cren ED. 1958. The inverted microscope method of estimating algal numbers and the statistical basis of estimations by counting. Hydrobiologia. 11(2):143-170. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007865 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007865
Medlin L, Priddle J. 1990. Polar Marine Diatoms. Cambridge (UK): British Antarctic Survey. 214 p.
Mendes CRB, de Souza MS, Garcia VMT, Leal MC, Brotas V, Garcia CAE. 2012. Dynamics of phytoplankton communities during late summer around the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Deep Res Part I Oceanogr Res Pap. 65:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2012.03.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2012.03.002
Moline MA, Claustre H, Frazer TK, Schofield O, Vernet M. 2004. Alteration of the food web along the Antarctic Peninsula in response to a regional warming trend. Glob Chang Biol. 10(12):1973-1980. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00825.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00825.x
Monien D, Monien P, Brünjes R, Widmer T, Kappenberg A, Silva Busso AA, Schnetger B, Brumsack HJ. 2017. Meltwater as a source of potentially bioavailable iron to Antarctica waters. Antarct Sci. 29(3):277-291. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410201600064X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410201600064X
Ochoa N, Gómez O, Baylón M. 2016. Fitoplancton del Estrecho de Bransfield y alrededores de la Isla Elefante durante el Verano Austral 2007. Bol Inst Mar Perú. 31(1):114-120.
Oksanen J, Blanchet FG, Friendly M, Kindt R, Legendre P, McGlinn D, Wagner HH. 2018. Vegan: Community Ecology Package. R package version 2.5‐2. [accessed Year month day]. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan.
Osińska M, Bialik RJ, Wójcik-Długoborska KA. 2021. Interrelation of quality parameters of surface waters in five tidewater glacier coves of King George Island, Antarctica. Sci Total Environ. 771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144780 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144780
Osińska M, Wójcik-Długoborska K, Bialik RJ. 2023. Annual hydrographic variability in Antarctic coastal waters infused with glacial inflow (in review). Earth Syst Sci Data. 15:607-616. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-607-2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-607-2023
Osmanoǧlu B, Braun M, Hock R, Navarro FJ. 2013. Surface velocity and ice discharge of the ice cap on King George Island, Antarctica. Ann Glaciol. 54(63):111-119. https://doi.org/10.3189/2013AoG63A517 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3189/2013AoG63A517
Pan BJ, Vernet M, Manck L, Forsch K, Ekern L, Mascioni M, Barbeau KA, Almandoz GO, Orona AJ. 2020. Environmental drivers of phytoplankton taxonomic composition in an Antarctic fjord. Prog Oceanogr. 183(February):102295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102295 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102295
Pan JB, Vernet M, Reynolds RA, Mitchell GB. 2019. The optical and biological properties of glacial meltwater in an Antarctic fjord. PLoS One. 14(2):1-30. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211107 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211107
Priddle J, Fryxell G. 1985. Handbook of the common planktonic diatoms of the Southern Ocean. Cambridge (UK): British Antarctic Survey. 159 p.
Von Quillfeldt CH. 2004. The diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus and its potential as an indicator species for cold water rather than for sea ice. Vie Milieu. 54(2–3):137-143.
Robakiewicz M, Rakusa-Suszczewski S. 1999. Application of 3D circulation model to Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Pol Polar Res. 20(1):43-58.
Round FE, Crawford RM, Mann DG. 1990. The diatoms: Biology and morphology of the genera. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press. 747 p.
Sánchez S, Villanueva P. 2001. Composición del fitoplancton en el Estrecho de Bransfield e Isla Elefante durante el verano austral de 1999. Rev Peru Biol. 1(8):23-37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15381/rpb.v8i1.6480
Sánchez S, Villanueva P, Delgado E. 2013. Distribución espacial del fitoplancton en el estrecho de bransfield durante el verano austral 2013. Bol Inst Mar Perú. 31:169-182.
Siciński J, Jażdżewski K, Broyer C De, Presler P, Ligowski R, Nonato EF, Corbisier TN, Petti MAV, Brito TAS, Lavrado HP, et al. 2011. Admiralty Bay benthos diversity-a census of a complex polar ecosystem. Deep Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr. 58(1–2):30-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.09.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.09.005
Smale DA, Wernberg T, Oliver ECJ, Thomsen M, Harvey BP, Straub SC, Burrows MT, Alexander LV, Benthuysen JA, Donat MG, et al. 2019. Marine heatwaves threaten global biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. Nat Clim Chang. 9(4):306-312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-019-0412-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-019-0412-1
Sournia A, Grall JR, Jacques G. 1979. Planktonic diatoms and dinoflagellates along a meridian transect in the Southern Indian Ocean (Campagne ‘Antiprod I’ du Marion-Dufresne, Mars 1977). Bot Mar. 22:183-198. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/botm.1979.22.3.183
Steidinger KA, Tangen K. 1997. Dinoflagellates. In: Tomas CR (ed.), Identifying marine phytoplankton. San Diego (USA): Academic Press. p. 387-584. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012693018-4/50005-7
Steig EJ, Schneider DP, Rutherford SD, Mann ME, Comiso JC, Shindell DT. 2009. Warming of the Antarctic ice-sheet surface since the 1957 International Geophysical Year. Nature. 457(7228):459-462. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature07669 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07669
Szafranski Z, Lipski M. 1982. Characteristics of water temperature and salinity at Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands Antarctic) during the austral summer 1978/1979. Pol Polar Res. 3:7-24.
Turner J, Barrand NE, Bracegirdle TJ, Convey P, Hodgson DA, Jarvis M, Jenkins A, Marshall G, Meredith MP, Roscoe H, et al. 2014. Antarctic climate change and the environment: an update. Polar Rec. 50(3):237-259. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247413000296 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247413000296
Villafañe VE, Helbling EW, Holm-Hansen O. 1995. Spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton biomass and taxonomic composition around Elephant Island, Antarctica, during the summers of 1990-1993. Mar Biol. 123(4):677-686. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349110 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349110