Temporal patterns and variations in phytoplankton community organization and abundance in Narragansett Bay during 1959-1980

Incident irradiance, surface water temperature and phytoplanktonspecies abundances were measured at weekly intervals in NarragansettBay from 1959 through 1980. Stepwise discriminant analyses (SDA)of this 22-year data set indicate that fundamental ecosystemchanges occurred between the 1960s and 1970s, with 1969 beingthe key transitional year in these decadal shifts in phyto planktontaxonomic structure and seasonal abundance. This decadal shiftwas accompanied by the increased summer abundance of small Thalassiosiraspp., which first appeared in 1966 and by 1969 became the sixthmost important phytoplankton component in this bay. Decadaltrends in phyto plankton community organization and abundancewere also accompanied by distinct long-term climatological gradientsof temperature and light. The 1960s were generally colder andbrighter than the 1970s. Prior to 1969, the annual phytoplanktonmaximum occurred most commonly during winter; in the 1970s,the annual maximum generally shifted to a summer event. Three5-year phytoplankton cycles occurred between 1959 and 1974.During each pentade, the phytoplankton community returned toa similar taxonomic organization and abundance cycle after divergingin the intervening years. Pentade cycles did not occur after1974; the phytoplankton community thereafter diverged significantlyfrom each preceding year. Five species [Skeletonema costatum,Detonula confervacea, Asterionellopsis glacialis, Hererosigmaakashiwo (= Olisthodiscus lureus) and Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii]dominated the phytoplankton over the 22-year period. SDA revealeda high degree of similarity and constancy in the annual occurrencepatterns of these taxa. The decadal shifts revealed by SDA weremore directly related to the considerable interannual variabilitythat characterized the abundance and seasonality of the lessabundant species.     

Temporal variations and pond age effect on plankton communities in semi-intensive freshwater marron (Cherax cainii,Austin and Ryan, 2002) earthen aquaculture ponds in Western Australia

The abundance and diversity of the plankton community represents the health of the aquatic ecosystem, and plays an important role in the growth of cultured animals under aquaculture conditions. The temporal variations of plankton abundance, taxonomic composition, diversity, evenness and species richness were studied in three old and three new semi-intensive marron (Cherax cainii, Austin and Ryan, 2002) ponds. Water parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, TAN, nitrite, nitrate and reactive phosphate were recorded, and plankton samples were collected every two months, for one year of juvenile production cycle. A total of twenty-six phytoplankton and seven zooplankton genera were recorded. Chlorophyceae was the dominant class of phytoplankton throughout the year, followed by Trebouxiophyceae. Rotifera comprised 49.8% of the total zooplankton community (individuals L^?1), the largest proportion of any group. Temporal variations impacted the plankton abundance and community structure, and plankton abundance were more abundant during summer. The pond age did not influence the phytoplankton abundance, whereas zooplankton abundance was higher in older ponds.     

In situ growth rates of marine phytoplankton: approaches to measurement, community and species growth rates

Taxonomic structure and biomass weighting are important determinantsof measurable marine phytoplankton community growth potential.Maximal diel-averaged growth rates of communities appear tofall between 3 and 3.6 doublings day^–1. Mean net growthrates are considerably lower. Ranges of community growth ratesmeasured in tropical, sub-tropical and (summer) temperate ecosystemsare similar. There appears to be a broad dichotomy between thegrowth potential of diatom species as compared to non-diatoms.Doubling rates of small diatoms frequently exceed communitybiomass doubling rates by wide margins. Diel-averaged growthrates of large diatoms, microflagellates and non-motile ultraplanktonpopulations are lower and similar in magnitude to communitygrowth estimates. Maximum growth rates of species measured insitu are in good agreement with maximum growth rates measuredin laboratory cultures. High specific productivity of sub-dominantor rare diatom species or assemblages will be diluted in thelower specific growth rates of microflagellate and non-motileultraplankton assemblages. Specific rates of grazing upon speciesand functional groups remain to be quantified, but stabilityof community size and taxonomic structure implies close linkagebetween growth and mortality rates at the species level overtime intervals of several generations.     

The relationship between phytoplankton biovolume and chlorophyll in a deep oligotrophic lake: decoupling in their spatial and temporal maxima

The seasonal distributions of phytoplankton biovolume and chlorophylla content were monitored for 14 months in a deep oligotrophic,high mountain lake (Redó, Pyrenees). An allometric relationshipof chlorophyll with biovolume was found throughout the periodstudied, with a correlation coefficient of 0.66. However, therelationship changed with season and the taxonomic compositionof the phytoplankton. Both parameters showed a similar seasonalpattern, but differences in space and time were observed. Thechlorophyll maximum was recorded deeper and later than thatof phytoplankton biovolume. While the biovolume maximum wasrelated to an improvement in conditions for growth (nutrientinput during column mixing periods), and reflected an increasein biomass, the chlorophyll maximum was related to changes incell pigment content, and to spatial or successional trendsin species dominance. Flagellated chrysophytes predominatedat the chlorophyll maxima. Chlorophyll content per unit of phytoplanktonbiovolume fluctuated greatly throughout the year, dependingon light intensity, temperature and phytoplankton composition.Of the main groups of phytoplankton in the lake, the dinoflagellates,which dominated the summer epilimnion phytoplankton community,recorded the lowest pigment content per biovolume (which isconsistent with their size). Higher chlorophyll contents perbiovolume were found in the deep hypolimnion and during thewinter cover period associated with small cells such as somespecies of chlorococcales chlorophytes. When flagellated chrysophyteswere predominant, a broad range of chlorophyll values per biovolumewas found and there was no significant correlation between thetwo biomass indices. These findings reaffirm the need to treatphytoplankton biomass estimates with caution, in particularwhen conducting primary production studies. While our resultsshow that changes in chlorophyll content per cell occur as aphotoacclimation response along a vertical profile, they alsopoint out a component of the successional trends which appearin a phytoplankton growth phase in a lake.     

营养盐加富和鱼类添加对浮游植物群落演替和多样性的影响

浮游植物是水体生态系统敞水区最重要的初级生产者,其组成与多样性反映了群落的结构类型和存在状态。通过围隔实验,模拟水库春季发生的营养盐加富和鱼类放养的干扰,分析在这两种干扰下的浮游植物群落演替过程中优势种和稀有种的变化,并通过以丰度与生物量为变量的香农和辛普森多样性指数的计算,分析浮游植物群落演替过程中的多样性变化特征。结果表明,营养盐加富干扰下的浮游植物群落的优势种变化和演替更为明显,营养盐加富与鱼类添加对浮游植物群落多样性变化的影响符合中度干扰理论。在优势种优势度变化较大的浮游植物群落演替过程中,多样性指数与浮游植物生物量有较高的负相关性。在浮游植物群落演替过程中,香农和辛普森多样性指数的变化趋势基本一致,采用丰度与生物量为变量的两种多样性指数的计算结果对实验系统中浮游植物群落多样性的分析结果没有明显的影响。     

Two types of maternal care for juveniles observed in Caprella monoceros Mayer, 1890 and Caprella decipiens Mayer, 1890 (Amphipoda: Caprellidae)

Spatial and seasonal patterns in phytoplankton and zooplankton communities of Lake St. Clair from June through September, 1984 are described. Phytoplankton biomass averages 586 µg l^-1 with the Diatomae and Chrysophyceae predominating. Zooplankton biomass averages 663 µg l^- with small bosminid Cladocera being the most abundant organisms. Lake St. Clair zooplankton biomass is second only to that of Lake Erie amongst the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Biomass size spectra are typical in structure for mesotrophic lakes but low explained variance in the annual normalized spectrum is indicative of a perturbed system. Since 1972/1973 there appears to have been a slight decrease in zooplankton abundance in the lake accompanied by a shift from dominance of rotifers to dominance of cladocerans. We hypothesize that high flushing rate and seasonal variability coupled with contaminant loadings have resulted in a plankton community reduced in taxonomic diversity and dominated by small-bodied species.     

Warming alters the size spectrum and shifts the distribution of biomass in freshwater ecosystems

Organism size is one of the key determinants of community structure, and its relationship with abundance can describe how biomass is partitioned among the biota within an ecosystem. An outdoor freshwater mesocosm experiment was used to determine how warming of～4 °C would affect the size, biomass and taxonomic structure of planktonic communities. Warming increased the steepness of the community size spectrum by increasing the prevalence of small organisms, primarily within the phytoplankton assemblage and it also reduced the mean and maximum size of phytoplankton by approximately one order of magnitude. The observed shifts in phytoplankton size structure were reflected in changes in phytoplankton community composition, though zooplankton taxonomic composition was unaffected by warming. Furthermore, warming reduced community biomass and total phytoplankton biomass, although zooplankton biomass was unaffected. This resulted in an increase in the zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass ratio in the warmed mesocosms, which could be explained by faster turnover within the phytoplankton assemblages. Overall, warming shifted the distribution of phytoplankton size towards smaller individuals with rapid turnover and low standing biomass, resulting in a reorganization of the biomass structure of the food webs. These results indicate future environmental warming may have profound effects on the structure and functioning of aquatic communities and ecosystems.     

Temperature increase and fluctuation induce phytoplankton biodiversity loss – Evidence from a multi‐seasonal mesocosm experiment

Global climate change scenarios predict lake water temperatures to increase up to 4°C and extreme weather events, including heat waves and large temperature fluctuations, to occur more frequently. Such changes may result in a reorganization of the plankton community structure, causing shifts in diversity and structure toward a community dominated by fewer species that are more adapted to endure warmer and irregular temperature conditions. We designed a long‐term (8 months) mesocosm experiment to explore how ambient water temperature (C: control), induced increased temperature (T: +4°C), and temperature fluctuations (F: ±4°C relative to T) change phytoplankton phenology, taxonomical diversity, and community structure, and how such changes affected zooplankton abundance and composition. Synthesis. Our results show that T and F relative to C significantly decreased phytoplankton diversity. Moreover, there was a clear effect of the temperature treatments (T and F) on phytoplankton size structure that resulted in a significantly lower growth of large species (i.e., large Chlorophyta) compared to C. Decreased diversity and evenness in the T and F treatments pushed the community toward the dominance of only a few phytoplankton taxa (mainly Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta) that are better adapted to endure warmer and more irregular temperature conditions. The observed shift toward Cyanobacteria dominance may affect trophic energy transfer along the aquatic food web.     

Changes in the structure of a zooplankton community during a Ceratium (dinoflagellate) bloom in a eutrophic fishless pond

The community structure of zooplankton was studied in a eutrophic,fishless Japanese pond. The ecosystem was dominated by a dinoflagellate,Ceratium hirundinella, two filter-feeding clado-cerans, Daphniarosea and Ceriodaphnia reticulata, and an invertebrate predator,the dipteran Chaoborus flavicans. The midsummer zooplanktoncommunity showed a large change in species composition (theDaphnia population crashed) when a heavy Ceratium bloom occurred.It is shown that (i) the rapid density decline of D.rosea inmid-May was mainly caused by a shortage of edible phytoplankton,which was facilitated by the rapid increase in Chirundinellaabundance; (ii) the low density of D.rosea in June-July wasconsidered to be mainly caused by the blooming of Ceratium hirundinella(which may inhibit the feeding process of D.rosea), while predationby Cflavicans larvae, the changing temperature, the interspecificcompetition and the scarcity of edible algae were not judgedto be important; (iii) the high summer biomass of the planktonicCflavicans larvae was maintained by the bloom of C.hirundinella,because >90% of the crop contents of C.flavicans larvae wereC.hirundinella during this period. The present study indicatesthat the large-sized cells or colonies of phytoplankton arenot only inedible by most cladocerans, but the selective effectof the blooming of these algae can also influence the compositionand dominance of the zooplankton community, especially for thefilter-feeding Cladocera, in a similar way as the selectivepredation by planktivorous fish. The large-sized phytoplanktoncan also be an important alternative food for ominivorous invertebratepredators such as Chaoborus larvae, and thus may affect theinteractions between these predators and their zooplanktonicprey. In this way, such phytoplankton may play a very importantrole in regulating the dynamics of the aquatic food web, andbecome a driving force in shaping the community structure ofzooplankton.     

Large-bodied Crustacea and rainbow smelt in Lake George, New York: trophic interactions and phytoplankton community composition

The phytoplankton community of south Lake George, New York,has recently undergone a dramatic shift in composition; froma community dominated by Chrysophytes, Cryptomonads, and Chlorophyta(1975–1976) to one currently dominated by blue-green algae,i.e.Anacystis incerta and Aphanothece nidulans. No increasesin nutrient concentrations or inputs have been documented beforeor during this period. This shift in dominance can be relatedto changes in higher trophic levels, i.e. grazers and planktivores.Standing crop and abundance of the small-bodied filter feeders,Bosmina longirostris, Daphnia galeata, D. dubia, Holopediumgibberum, Diaptomus minutus and D. sicilis are significantlygreater in the south basin. Standing crop and abundance of thelarge-bodied Crustacea, Daphnia pulicaria, Epishura lacustrisand Mysis relicta, are significantly greater in the north basin.The clutch sizes of all herbivorous species except D. minutuswere significantly greater in the south basin populations. Thesedifferences are consistent with greater productivity and sizeslective planktivory in the south basin. Stomach analysis ofthe recently introduced rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax indicatesa marked selection for the large-bodied Crustacea. The establishmentof large populations of rainbow smelt in the south basin ofLake George is responsible for significant basin differencesin the abundance of large-bodied Crustacea and appears to havecontributed to the changes in phytoplankton community composition.The shift to small-bodied Crustacea in the south basin has resultedin significantly lower grazing rates but generally higher Prelease rates in the south basin. These factors contribute togreater springtime phytoplankton production and silica depletionin the south basin. Coccoid blue-green algae are able to dominatewaters with low phosphorus and silica concentrations, i.e. LakeGeorge. Thus, the establishment of rainbow smelt in Lake Georgecoincides with, and appears to be responsible for, changes inphytoplankton community composition.     

Seasonal variations of size-fractionated phytoplankton along the salinity gradient in the York River estuary, Virginia (USA)

The dynamics of phytoplankton size structure were investigatedin the freshwater, transitional and estuarine zones of the YorkRiver over an annual cycle. The contribution of large cells(microplankton, >20 µm) to total concentrations ofchlorophyll a increased downstream during winter, whereas thatof small cells (nanoplankton, 3–20 µm; picoplankton,<3 µm) increased downstream during summer. In the freshwaterregion, the contribution of micro phytoplankton to total concentrationsof chlorophyll a was significant during warm seasons (springand summer) but not during colder seasons (winter), whereasthe contribution of small-sized cells (especially picoplankton)increased during cold seasons. Temperature, light and high flushingrate appear to control phytoplankton community structure inthe freshwater region. In the transitional region, nano-sizedcells dominated the phytoplankton population throughout allseasons except during the spring bloom (April) when the chlorophylla concentration of micro phytoplankton increased. Size structurein the transitional region is most likely regulated by lightavailability. In the mesohaline region, nano- and pico-sizedcells dominated the phytoplankton population during the summerbloom, whereas micro-sized cells dominated during the winterbloom. Factors controlling phytoplankton community size structurein the mesohaline zone may be riverine nitrogen input, temperatureand/or advective transport from up-river. Based on these results,the spatial and seasonal variations in size structure of phytoplanktonobserved on the estuarine scale may be determined both by thedifferent preferences for nutrients and by different light requirementsof micro-, nano- and picoplankton. The results suggest thatanalyses of phytoplankton size structure are necessary to betterunderstand controls on phytoplankton dynamics and to bettermanage water quality in river-dominated, estuarine systems.     

Effects of different fish species and biomass on plankton interactions in a shallow lake

Thirty-six enclosures, surface area 4 m², were placed in Little Mere, a shallow fertile lake in Cheshire, U.K. The effects of different fish species (common carp, common bream, tench and roach) of zooplanktivorous size, and their biomass (0, 200 and 700 kg ha^–1) on water chemistry, zooplankton and phytoplankton communities were investigated. Fish biomass had a strong effect on mean zooplankton size and abundance. When fish biomass rose, larger zooplankters were replaced by more numerous smaller zooplankters. Consequently phytoplankton abundance rose in the presence of higher densities of zooplanktivorous fish, as zooplankton grazing was reduced. Fish species were also significant in determining zooplankton community size structure. In enclosures with bream there were significantly greater densities of small zooplankters than in enclosures stocked with either carp, tench and, in part, roach. When carp or roach were present, the phytoplankton had a greater abundance of Cyanophyta than when bream or tench were present. Whilst top-down effects of fish predation controlled the size partitioning of the zooplankton community, this, in turn apparently controlled the bottom-up regeneration of nutrients for the phytoplankton community. At the zooplankton–phytoplankton interface, both top-down and bottom-up processes were entwined in a reciprocal feedback mechanism with the extent and direction of that relationship altered by changes in fish species. This has consequences for the way that top-down and bottom-up processes are generalised.     

Integrating macroecological metrics and community taxonomic structure

We extend macroecological theory based on the maximum entropy principle from species level to higher taxonomic categories, thereby predicting distributions of species richness across genera or families and the dependence of abundance and metabolic rate distributions on taxonomic tree structure. Predictions agree with qualitative trends reported in studies on hyper‐dominance in tropical tree species, mammalian body size distributions and patterns of rarity in worldwide plant communities. Predicted distributions of species richness over genera or families for birds, arthropods, plants and microorganisms are in excellent agreement with data. Data from an intertidal invertebrate community, but not from a dispersal‐limited forest, are in excellent agreement with a predicted new relationship between body size and abundance. Successful predictions of the original species level theory are unmodified in the extended theory. By integrating macroecology and taxonomic tree structure, maximum entropy may point the way towards a unified framework for understanding phylogenetic community structure.     

Predation, production and the organization of an estuarine copepod community

The copepod community of the estuaries near Beaufort, NC underwenta consistent seasonal succession from a spring assemblage dominatedby the medium-sized copepod Acartia tonsa (1 mm) to a summer—fallassemblage dominated by the small-bodied copepods Parvocalanuscrizsrirostris and Oithona colcarva (both 0.5 mm). However,in enclosure experiments during this period, A. tonsa dominatedthe community, due to higher growth rates and its predationon the nauplii of other species. Nutrient additions enhancedthe dominance by A. tonsa. The decline in abundance of A. tonsain the estuary was associated with increased abundance of planktivorousanchovies and silversides. In other enclosure experiments, planktivorousfish eliminated A. tonsa and other large copepods, althoughthey persisted in enclosures lacking fish. I conclude that predationby size-selective planktivorous fish prevents dominance by A.tonsa during summer—fall. ¹Present address: Institute of Marine Sciences, University ofNorth Carolina, 3407 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557,USA     

安徽沱湖夏季浮游植物群落结构特征与环境因子关系

为了揭示沱湖浮游植物群落结构特征及其与水环境因子的关系,于2016年7月(夏季),对沱湖流域上游至下游11个采样点浮游植物种类组成、细胞丰度、生物量等进行调查研究。结果显示,沱湖共有浮游植物96种(含变种),隶属8门48属,其中绿藻门(Chlorophyta)和硅藻门(Bacillariophyta)种类最多,绿藻门有23属39种,占总种数的40.63%,硅藻门有7属20种,占总种数的20.83%;其次为裸藻门(Euglenophyta),有5属17种,占总种数的17.71%,蓝藻门(Cyanophyta) 8属14种,占14.58%;甲藻门(Pyrrophyta) 2属2种,隐藻门(Cryptophyta) 1属2种,各占总种数的2.08%,黄藻门(Xanthophyta)与金藻门(Chrysophyta)均有1属1种,均占总种数的1.04%。绿藻和硅藻类物种在沱湖浮游植物群落结构中处于优势地位,沱湖夏季浮游植物种类组成表现为绿藻-硅藻型。沱湖夏季浮游植物细胞丰度与生物量从上游到下游呈逐渐增加趋势,细胞丰度与生物量平均值分别为4.022×106cells/L与3.046 mg/L,蓝藻门和绿藻门类群为沱湖浮游植物细胞丰度主体,硅藻门和裸藻门类群为沱湖浮游植物生物量的主体;上游浮游植物多样性指数与均匀度指数均略高于下游采样点,沱湖水质呈β中污型-无污染型,上游水质优于下游水质。浮游植物群落结构与水环境因子的典型对应分析(CCA)结果表明,电导率、透明度、水深及pH值等环境因子与沱湖夏季浮游植物群落结构有较强的相关性。     

Polymeric and free sugars released by three phytoplanktonic species from a freshwater tropical eutrophic reservoir

Several studies have focused on the release of carbohydratesby phytoplankton because of the ecological significance of suchcompounds. This process increases the supply of carbon to theheterotrophic community, enhancing the phytoplankton/bacteriaassociations. In this article, we report investigations on thecarbohydrate release, both polymeric and free sugars, in axenicbatch cultures of three tropical freshwater phytoplanktonicspecies from different taxonomic positions: Cryptomonas tetrapyrenoidosa(Cryptophyceae), Staurastrum orbiculare (Zygnematophyceae) andThalassiosira sp. (Bacillariophyceae). The total carbohydraterelease rate was increased in the stationary growth phase inall the species under study. Most of the carbohydrates releasedby the three species were present in the polymeric form, althoughboth polymeric and free carbohydrates could supply carbon enoughto support bacterioplanktonic populations, according to ratesof consumption found on literature. The composition of the carbohydratesdiffered significantly from one species to another, indicatingthat carbohydrate release might be a species-specific process.We also observed that the contributions of some components frompolymeric sugars, such as fucose, rhamnose and arabinose increasedwith the advancing age of the cultures.     

A shift in the dominant toxin-producing algal species in central California alters phycotoxins in food webs

In California, the toxic algal species of primary concern are the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella and members of the pennate diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia, both producers of potent neurotoxins that are capable of sickening and killing marine life and humans. During the summer of 2004 in Monterey Bay, we observed a change in the taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton community—the typically diatom-dominated community shifted to a red tide, dinoflagellate-dominated community. Here we use a 6-year time series (2000–2006) to show how the abundance of the dominant harmful algal bloom (HAB) species in the Bay up to that point, Pseudo-nitzschia, significantly declined during the dinoflagellate-dominated interval, while two genera of toxic dinoflagellates, Alexandrium and Dinophysis, became the predominant toxin producers. This change represents a shift from a genus of toxin producers that typically dominates the community during a toxic bloom, to HAB taxa that are generally only minor components of the community in a toxic event. This change in the local HAB species was also reflected in the toxins present in higher trophic levels. Despite the small contribution of A. catenella to the overall phytoplankton community, the increase in the presence of this species in Monterey Bay was associated with an increase in the presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in sentinel shellfish and clupeoid fish. This report provides the first evidence that PSP toxins are present in California's pelagic food web, as PSP toxins were detected in both northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) and Pacific sardines (Sardinops sagax). Another interesting observation from our data is the co-occurrence of DA and PSP toxins in both planktivorous fish and sentinel shellfish. We also provide evidence, based on the statewide biotoxin monitoring program, that this increase in the frequency and abundance of PSP events related to A. catenella occurred not just in Monterey Bay, but also in other coastal regions of California. Our results demonstrate that changes in the taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton community influences the nature of the algal toxins that move through local food webs and also emphasizes the importance of monitoring for the full suite of toxic algae, rather than just one genus or species.     

Phytoplankton strategies and diversity under different nutrient levels and planktivorous fish densities in a shallow Mediterranean lake

Two mesocosm experiments were carried out to investigate thedynamic ef fects of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) andplanktivorous fish additions on phytoplankton strategies anddiversity. The phylogenetic and functional approaches were usedto understand phytoplankton ecology in shallow Mediterraneanlakes. The experimental approach is new for the study of algalfunctional groups. Nutrient loading and fish stocks enhancedbiomass of small algae but decreased phytoplankton diversityand species richness. Faster species replacement and fluctuationsin diversity occurred above loadings of 1 µM P and 21µM N. Mesotrophic conditions favoured a diverse pool ofspecies, including nostocales and unicellular flagellate algae(functional groups S_n, S₁, L₀, Y, Reynolds et al., 2002). C-strategistchlorophytes (small algae from functional group X₁) dominatedmid-successional assemblages with good light and accessiblenutrients. High nutrient concentrations, dim light, presenceof organic matter and of larger zooplankton favoured to functionalgroups S₁ of oligophotic filamentous cyanobacteria and J ofmixotrophic Scenedemus species. Intermediate nutrient levelswith total phosphorus (TP) 10 µM, water quiescence, transparencyand smaller zooplankton prompted dominance of chroococcal cyanobacteria(functional groups X₁ and K). Resulting patterns agree and reinforcethe validity of plankton functional groups associated with warm,shallow enriched systems, although some changes in the groupsare suggested in relation to the structuring role of nutrientsand grazing on the functional scheme for phytoplankton.     

Periodicity of composition, abundance, and vertical distribution of summer zooplankton (1977/1978) in Ezcurra Inlet, Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland)

Seasonal succession and variation in species composition, density,biomass, age distribution and frequency of zooplankton (mainlythe Copepoda) were analysed during the austral summer of of1977/1978 in Ezcurra Inlet, a part of the Antarctic coastalecosystem. Small zooplankters (i.e., cyclopoids of the generaOncaea and Oithona, and calanoids Drepanopus pectinatus andScolocithricella glacialis) were found to predominate in termsof abundance and percentage contribution. The zooplankton biomasswas dominated by larger organisms of the Metrididae and Calanidae(Calanoida). The maximum abundance and maximum biomass of copepodswere recorded in February; two small peaks in copepod biomassbeing observed in late December and late January, and a lesserbiomass peak in late December. The vertical distribution ofcopepods in terms of their diel and seasonal (December, January,February, March) changes showed a day-time maximum to have occurredin the near-bottom layer, the nocturnal distribution being bimodalwith peaks within 0–10 m and 25–50 m. The summerzooplankton community in Ezcurra Inlet is controlled by trophic(phytoplankton composition and density) and hydrological (waterexchange with Bransfield Strait) conditions prevailing in thearea.     

Sequencing our way to more accurate community abundance

Over the last two decades, there has been a huge increase in our understanding of microbial diversity, structure and composition enabled by high-throughput sequencing technologies. Yet, it is unclear how the number of sequences translates to the number of cells or species within the community. In some cases, additional observational data may be required to ensure relative abundance patterns from sequence reads are biologically meaningful. The goal of DNA-based methods for biodiversity assessments is to obtain robust community abundance data, simultaneously, from environmental samples. In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Pierella Karlusich et al. (2022) describe a new method for quantifying phytoplankton cell abundance. Using Tara Oceans data sets, the authors propose the photosynthetic gene psbO for reporting accurate relative abundance of the entire phytoplankton community from metagenomic data. The authors demonstrate higher correlations with traditional optical methods (including microscopy and flow cytometry), using their new method, improving upon molecular abundance assessments using multicopy marker genes. Furthermore, to facilitate application of their approach, the authors curated a psbO gene database for accessible taxonomic queries. This is an important step towards improving species abundance estimates from molecular data and eventually reporting of absolute species abundance, enhancing our understanding of community dynamics.