Spatial and temporal variability of microplankton and detritus, and their export to the shelf sediments in the upwelling area off Concepcion, Chile ( similar to 36 super(o)S), during 2002-2005

• Published in: Progress in oceanography Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 435 - 451
• Main Authors: Gonzalez, HE, Menschel, E, Aparicio, C, Barria, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2007
• Subjects: Bacillariophyceae; Chaetoceros; Marine; Thalassiosira; ISE, Chile
• ISSN: 0079-6611
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pocean.2007.08.025

Seasonal variations in diversity and biomass of diatoms, tintinnids, and dinoflagellates and the contribution of microplankton and faecal material to the vertical flux of particulates were investigated at one time series station T (station 18) between 2002 and 2005 and at a grid of stations during November 2004 in the coastal and oceanic area off Concepcion (36 super(o)S), Chile. The variations were analysed in relation to water column temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrient concentration, offshore Ekman transport, and chlorophyll-a concentration. Abundance was estimated as cell numbers per litre and biomass in terms of biovolume and carbon units. A sharp decrease with depth was observed in the abundance of both phytoplankton and microzooplankton during the whole annual cycle; over 70% of their abundance was concentrated in the upper 10m of the water column. Also, a clear seasonality in microplankton distribution was observed at station T, with maxima for diatoms, tintinnids, and dinoflagellates every summer (centred on January) from 2002 to 2005. On the grid of stations, the maximum integrated (0-50m) micro-phytoplankton abundances (>1x10 super(9)cellsm super(-) super(2)) occurred at the coastal stations, an area directly influenced by upwelling. A similar spatial distribution was observed for the integrated (0-200m) faecal carbon (with values up to 632mgCm super(-) super(2)). Tintinnids were distributed in all the first 300 miles from the coast and dinoflagellates were more abundant in oceanic waters. At station T, the average POC export production (below 50m depth) was 16.6% (SD=17%; range 2-67%; n=16). The biological-mediated fluxes of carbon between the upper productive layer and the sediments of the continental shelf off Concepcion depend upon key groups of phytoplankton (Thalassiosira spp., Chaetoceros spp.) and zooplankton (euphausiids) through the export of either cells or faecal material, respectively.