Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Ramirez-Romero E., Molinero Juan-Carlos, Sommer U., Salhi N., Yahia O. K. D., Yahia M. N. D. (2020). Phytoplankton size changes and diversity loss in the southwestern Mediterranean Sea in relation to long-term hydrographic variability. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 235, art. 106574 [7 p.]. ISSN 0272-7714.

Titre du document
Phytoplankton size changes and diversity loss in the southwestern Mediterranean Sea in relation to long-term hydrographic variability
Année de publication
2020
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000527915700034
Auteurs
Ramirez-Romero E., Molinero Juan-Carlos, Sommer U., Salhi N., Yahia O. K. D., Yahia M. N. D.
Source
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 2020, 235, art. 106574 [7 p.] ISSN 0272-7714
Structural changes in plankton primary producers have large implications for food web dynamics, energy fluxes and the vertical export of biogenic particulate carbon. Here we examine phytoplankton data spanning the period 1993-2008 from the Bay of Tunis, southwestern Mediterranean Sea, in relation to long term hydroclimate variability. We show a conspicuous shift in the structure of the phytoplankton community characterized by an increase of small-sized species and diversity loss, revealing a dominance of smaller blooming diatoms and cyanobacteria. Such changes were concurrent with marked modifications in hydroclimatic patterns experienced in the Bay of Tunis consisting of a shift towards enhanced winter precipitation together with rising temperatures. This novel study shows an overall rise in the proportion of small phytoplankton cells and a decreasing trend in phytoplankton diversity in the southern Mediterranean area. These findings warn of a potential decline of trophic efficiency and lesser food web stability resulting from mean size reduction and the diversity loss.
Plan de classement
Limnologie physique / Océanographie physique [032] ; Limnologie biologique / Océanographie biologique [034] ; Ecologie, systèmes aquatiques [036]
Description Géographique
MEDITERRANEE ; TUNISIE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010079013]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010079013
Contact