scholarly journals Genomic evidence for global ocean plankton biogeography shaped by large-scale current systems

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Richter ◽  
Romain Watteaux ◽  
Thomas Vannier ◽  
Jade Leconte ◽  
Paul Frémont ◽  
...  

AbstractBiogeographical studies have traditionally focused on readily visible organisms, but recent technological advances are enabling analyses of the large-scale distribution of microscopic organisms, whose biogeographical patterns have long been debated. Here we assessed the global structure of plankton geography and its relation to the biological, chemical and physical context of the ocean (the ‘seascape’) by analyzing metagenomes of plankton communities sampled across oceans during the Tara Oceans expedition, in light of environmental data and ocean current transport. Using a consistent approach across organismal sizes that provides unprecedented resolution to measure changes in genomic composition between communities, we report a pan-ocean, size-dependent plankton biogeography overlying regional heterogeneity. We found robust evidence for a basin-scale impact of transport by ocean currents on plankton biogeography, and on a characteristic timescale of community dynamics going beyond simple seasonality or life history transitions of plankton.

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 645-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. I. C. Oliver ◽  
B. A. A. Hoogakker ◽  
S. Crowhurst ◽  
G. M. Henderson ◽  
R. E. M. Rickaby ◽  
...  

Abstract. The isotopic composition of carbon, δ13C, in seawater is used in reconstructions of ocean circulation, marine productivity, air-sea gas exchange, and biosphere carbon storage. Here, a synthesis of δ13C measurements taken from foraminifera in marine sediment cores over the last 150 000 years is presented. The dataset comprises previously published and unpublished data from benthic and planktonic records throughout the global ocean. Data are placed on a common δ18O age scale suitable for examining orbital timescale variability but not millennial events, which are removed by a 10 ka filter. Error estimates account for the resolution and scatter of the original data, and uncertainty in the relationship between δ13C of calcite and of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in seawater. This will assist comparison with δ13C of DIC output from models, which can be further improved using model outputs such as temperature, DIC concentration, and alkalinity to improve estimates of fractionation during calcite formation. High global deep ocean δ13C, indicating isotopically heavy carbon, is obtained during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1, 3, 5a, c and e, and low δ13C during MIS 2, 4 and 6, which are temperature minima, with larger amplitude variability in the Atlantic Ocean than the Pacific Ocean. This is likely to result from changes in biosphere carbon storage, modulated by changes in ocean circulation, productivity, and air-sea gas exchange. The North Atlantic vertical δ13C gradient is greater during temperature minima than temperature maxima, attributed to changes in the spatial extent of Atlantic source waters. There are insufficient data from shallower than 2500 m to obtain a coherent pattern in other ocean basins. The data synthesis indicates that basin-scale δ13C during the last interglacial (MIS 5e) is not clearly distinguishable from the Holocene (MIS 1) or from MIS 5a and 5c, despite significant differences in ice volume and atmospheric CO2 concentration during these intervals. Similarly, MIS 6 is only distinguishable from MIS 2 or 4 due to globally lower δ13C values both in benthic and planktonic data. This result is obtained despite individual records showing differences between these intervals, indicating that care must be used in interpreting large scale signals from a small number of records.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Clayton ◽  
Harriet Alexander ◽  
Jason R. Graff ◽  
Nicole J. Poulton ◽  
Luke R. Thompson ◽  
...  

In this article, we present Bio-GO-SHIP, a new ocean observing program that will incorporate sustained and consistent global biological ocean observations into the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP). The goal of Bio-GO-SHIP is to produce systematic and consistent biological observations during global ocean repeat hydrographic surveys, with a particular focus on the planktonic ecosystem. Ocean plankton are an essential component of the earth climate system, form the base of the oceanic food web and thereby play an important role in influencing food security and contributing to the Blue Economy. Despite its importance, ocean biology is largely under-sampled in time and space compared to physical and chemical properties. This lack of information hampers our ability to understand the role of plankton in regulating biogeochemical processes and fueling higher trophic levels, now and in future ocean conditions. Traditionally, many of the methods used to quantify biological and ecosystem essential ocean variables (EOVs), measures that provide valuable information on the ecosystem, have been expensive and labor- and time-intensive, limiting their large-scale deployment. In the last two decades, new technologies have been developed and matured, making it possible to greatly expand our biological ocean observing capacity. These technologies, including cell imaging, bio-optical sensors and 'omic tools, can be combined to provide overlapping measurements of key biological and ecosystem EOVs. New developments in data management and open sharing can facilitate meaningful synthesis and integration with concurrent physical and chemical data. Here we outline how Bio-GO-SHIP leverages these technological advances to greatly expand our knowledge and understanding of the constituents and function of the global ocean plankton ecosystem.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 2497-2554 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. I. C. Oliver ◽  
B. A. A. Hoogakker ◽  
S. Crowhurst ◽  
G. M. Henderson ◽  
R. E. M. Rickaby ◽  
...  

Abstract. The isotopic composition of carbon, δ13C, in seawater is used in reconstructions of ocean circulation, marine productivity, air-sea gas exchange, and biosphere carbon storage. Here, a synthesis of δ13C measurements taken from foraminifera in marine sediment cores over the last 150 000 years is presented. The dataset comprises previously published and unpublished data from benthic and planktonic records throughout the global ocean. Data are placed on a common δ18O age scale and filtered to remove timescales shorter than 6 kyr. Error estimates account for the resolution and scatter of the original data, and uncertainty in the relationship between δ13C of calcite and of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in seawater. This will assist comparison with δ13C of DIC output from models, which can be further improved using model outputs such as temperature, DIC concentration, and alkalinity to improve estimates of fractionation during calcite formation. High global deep ocean δ13C, indicating isotopically heavy carbon, is obtained during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1, 3, 5a, 5c and 5e, and low δ13C during MIS 2, 4 and 6, which are temperature minima, with larger amplitude variability in the Atlantic Ocean than the Pacific Ocean. This is likely to result from changes in biosphere carbon storage, modulated by changes in ocean circulation, productivity, and air-sea gas exchange. The North Atlantic vertical δ13C gradient is greater during temperature minima than temperature maxima, attributed to changes in the spatial extent of Atlantic source waters. There are insufficient data from shallower than 2500 m to obtain a coherent pattern in other ocean basins. The data synthesis indicates that basin-scale δ13C during the last interglacial (MIS 5e) is not clearly distinguishable from the Holocene (MIS 1) or from MIS 5a and 5c, despite significant differences in ice volume and atmospheric CO2 concentration during these intervals. Similarly, MIS 6 is only distinguishable from MIS 2 or 4 due to globally lower δ13C values both in benthic and planktonic data. This result is obtained despite individual records showing differences between these intervals, indicating that care must be used in interpreting large scale signals from a small number of records.


1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Falkowski ◽  
Z Kolber

The ocean is optically thin and lends itself to large-scale measurements of in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence. In the open ocean, however, phytoplankton chlorophyll concentrations average only 0.2 μg L-1, and hence high sensitivity is required for precise measurements of the fluorescence yields. Over the past decade, we have developed two approaches to achieve the required sensitivity; these are the pump- and probe-technique and a fast repetition rate (FRR) method. Both methods have been adapted for in situ studies and are used to rapidly measure the maximum change in the quantum yield (Δ�max) of photosystem II (PSII), as well as the effective absorption cross-section of PSII (σPSII). Sections of variable fluorescence across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans reveal the influence of geophysical processes in controlling the quantum yields of phytoplankton photosynthesis. Areas of upwelling, such as off the coast of north-westem Africa, have Fv/Fm values of 0.65, which are close to the maximum achievable values in nutrient-replete cultures. Throughout most of the nutrient-deficient central ocean basins, this quantum efficiency is reduced by more than 50%. In high-nutrient, low- chlorophyll regions of the eastern Equatorial Pacific, the deliberate, large-scale addition of nanomolar iron directly to the ocean leads to a rapid increase in quantum efficiency of the natural phytoplankton community, thereby revealing that in these regions phytoplankton photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency is iron limited. Diel patterns of variation in the upper ocean display midday, intensity- dependent reductions in both upsII and A�max. We interpret the former as indicative of non- photochemical quenching in the antenna, while the latter is a consequence of both rapidly reversible and slowly reversible damage to reaction centres. From knowledge of the incident spectral irradiance, Δ�max, σPSII, and photochemical quenching, the absolute photosynthetic electron transport rate can be derived in real-time. Using unattended, moored continuous measurements of in vivo fluorescence parameters, the derived in situ electron transport rates can be related to satellite observations of the global ocean with basin-scale, seasonal estimates of phytoplankton carbon fixation. Thus, unlike any other photosynthetic parameter, chlorophyll fluorescence can be used to bridge the scales of biophysical responses to ecosystem dynamics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-79
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds ◽  
Eric Rehm ◽  
Bruce M. Howe ◽  
Peter F. Worcester ◽  
Georgios Haralabus ◽  
...  

Abstract Due to the efficient propagation of sound in water, sound in the deep ocean propagates such great distances that soundscapes are influenced not only by local conditions but also by distant sound sources. Ocean Sound is now an Essential Ocean Variable within the Global Ocean Observing System making passive acoustic monitoring routine. Active acoustic probing of the environment informs us about ocean topography, currents and temperature, and abundance and type of marine life vital to fisheries and biodiversity related interests.Efficient sound propagation is the foundation of a proposed multipurpose acoustic network. Judiciously placed low-frequency acoustic sources transmitting to globally distributed passive acoustic systems provide: (1) high temporal resolution measurements of large-scale ocean temperature/heat content variability using tomography; and (2) underwater geo-positioning (UW-GPS) and communication services enabling basin-scale underwater operation of floats, gliders, and AUVs. Every platform (fixed or moving) equipped with a hydrophone becomes a “GPS” receiver, while listening to the ocean soundscape. The combined active and passive acoustic technology will lead to multi-disciplinary discovery and improved understanding of ocean ecosystem health and biodiversity, climate variability and change, marine hazards, and maritime safety. The same system will improve the operation of gliders, floats and AUVs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Penduff ◽  
Fei-Er Yan ◽  
Imane Benabicha ◽  
Jean-Marc Molines ◽  
Bernard Barnier

<p>The OCCIPUT eddy-permitting (1/4°) global ocean/sea-ice 50-member ensemble simulation is analyzed over the period 1980-2015 to identify how the atmosphere and the intrinsic/chaotic ocean variability modulate the basin-scale Ocean Heat Content (OHC) at various timescales. In all regions of the simulated world ocean, the atmospherically-forced interannual OHC variability is driven by both air-sea heat fluxes (Qnet) and advective heat transport convergences (Conv), while the intrinsic component is driven by Conv, and damped by Qnet. </p><p>We focus on the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (SA), where the oceanic “chaos” explains 36 to 90% of the interannual and decadal heat transport variability across the limits of the basin, and 22% of this huge basin’s OHC variability at interannual and decadal timescales.</p><p>The model also simulates the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave (ACW) that was observed in the 80-90’s, with large impacts on OHC and heat transports in the Southern Ocean. This forced signal appears south of Australia, propagates eastward around Antarctica and northward into the Tropical Atlantic and the Tropical Indian Ocean. </p><p>These results highlight the substantial contribution of large-scale low-frequency chaotic heat advection in eddy-active regions, and its major impact on decadal OHC variations over key basins. They suggest that climate simulations using eddying ocean models include an oceanic and random source of large-scale low-frequency variability whose atmospheric impacts remain to be assessed.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Antonio Moreira Lima

This paper is concerned with the planning, implementation and some results of the Oceanographic Modeling and Observation Network, named REMO, for Brazilian regional waters. Ocean forecasting has been an important scientific issue over the last decade due to studies related to climate change as well as applications related to short-range oceanic forecasts. The South Atlantic Ocean has a deficit of oceanographic measurements when compared to other ocean basins such as the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean. It is a challenge to design an ocean forecasting system for a region with poor observational coverage of in-situ data. Fortunately, most ocean forecasting systems heavily rely on the assimilation of surface fields such as sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) or sea surface temperature (SST), acquired by environmental satellites, that can accurately provide information that constrain major surface current systems and their mesoscale activity. An integrated approach is proposed here in which the large scale circulation in the Atlantic Ocean is modeled in a first step, and gradually nested into higher resolution regional models that are able to resolve important processes such as the Brazil Current and associated mesoscale variability, continental shelf waves, local and remote wind forcing, and others. This article presents the overall strategy to develop the models using a network of Brazilian institutions and their related expertise along with international collaboration. This work has some similarity with goals of the international project Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment OceanView (GODAE OceanView).


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1335
Author(s):  
Ronald Souza ◽  
Luciano Pezzi ◽  
Sebastiaan Swart ◽  
Fabrício Oliveira ◽  
Marcelo Santini

The Brazil–Malvinas Confluence (BMC) is one of the most dynamical regions of the global ocean. Its variability is dominated by the mesoscale, mainly expressed by the presence of meanders and eddies, which are understood to be local regulators of air-sea interaction processes. The objective of this work is to study the local modulation of air-sea interaction variables by the presence of either a warm (ED1) and a cold core (ED2) eddy, present in the BMC, during September to November 2013. The translation and lifespans of both eddies were determined using satellite-derived sea level anomaly (SLA) data. Time series of satellite-derived surface wind data, as well as these and other meteorological variables, retrieved from ERA5 reanalysis at the eddies’ successive positions in time, allowed us to investigate the temporal modulation of the lower atmosphere by the eddies’ presence along their translation and lifespan. The reanalysis data indicate a mean increase of 78% in sensible and 55% in latent heat fluxes along the warm eddy trajectory in comparison to the surrounding ocean of the study region. Over the cold core eddy, on the other hand, we noticed a mean reduction of 49% and 25% in sensible and latent heat fluxes, respectively, compared to the adjacent ocean. Additionally, a field campaign observed both eddies and the lower atmosphere from ship-borne observations before, during and after crossing both eddies in the study region during October 2013. The presence of the eddies was imprinted on several surface meteorological variables depending on the sea surface temperature (SST) in the eddy cores. In situ oceanographic and meteorological data, together with high frequency micrometeorological data, were also used here to demonstrate that the local, rather than the large scale forcing of the eddies on the atmosphere above, is, as expected, the principal driver of air-sea interaction when transient atmospheric systems are stable (not actively varying) in the study region. We also make use of the in situ data to show the differences (biases) between bulk heat flux estimates (used on atmospheric reanalysis products) and eddy covariance measurements (taken as “sea truth”) of both sensible and latent heat fluxes. The findings demonstrate the importance of short-term changes (minutes to hours) in both the atmosphere and the ocean in contributing to these biases. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of the mesoscale oceanographic structures in the BMC on impacting local air-sea heat fluxes and the marine atmospheric boundary layer stability, especially under large scale, high-pressure atmospheric conditions.


Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. eabf2946
Author(s):  
Louis du Plessis ◽  
John T. McCrone ◽  
Alexander E. Zarebski ◽  
Verity Hill ◽  
Christopher Ruis ◽  
...  

The UK’s COVID-19 epidemic during early 2020 was one of world’s largest and unusually well represented by virus genomic sampling. Here we reveal the fine-scale genetic lineage structure of this epidemic through analysis of 50,887 SARS-CoV-2 genomes, including 26,181 from the UK sampled throughout the country’s first wave of infection. Using large-scale phylogenetic analyses, combined with epidemiological and travel data, we quantify the size, spatio-temporal origins and persistence of genetically-distinct UK transmission lineages. Rapid fluctuations in virus importation rates resulted in >1000 lineages; those introduced prior to national lockdown tended to be larger and more dispersed. Lineage importation and regional lineage diversity declined after lockdown, while lineage elimination was size-dependent. We discuss the implications of our genetic perspective on transmission dynamics for COVID-19 epidemiology and control.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document