Perspective: continental inputs of matter into planktonic ecosystems of Argentinean continental shelf ‒the case of atmospheric dust

AUGUSTO C. CRESPI-ABRIL; ELENA S. BARBIERI; LEILÉN GRACIA VILLALOBOS; GASPAR SORIA; FLAVIO E. PAPARAZZO; JOANNA M. PACZKOWSKA; RODRIGO J. GONÇALVES

Plankton Ecology of the Southwestern Atlantic, from Subtropical to the Subantarctic realm

Springer

Año: 2018;

AbstractLand-derived dissolved andparticulate matter (allochthonous matter) affect pelagic ecosystemsby changing factors which include light penetration, nutrientavailability, substrate concentration and, in general, biogeochemicalcycles in the ocean. In a context of increasing anthropogenic impact,this material may not only increase its load but also carry toxicsubstances. Riverine runoff is the most studied mechanism ofparticulate matter input from the continent to the shelf in thesouthern region of South America where the continental shelf iswidest (e.g. Atlantic Patagonia). However, there are other sources ofparticulate matter which are not affected by rivers in this semi-aridregion: aeolian material. Winds in this region (notably the SouthHemisphere westerlies) are the only way continental aeolian material(atmospheric aerosols or ?dust?) can reach not only the shelf buteven further onto oceanic HNLC (High Nutrients‒Low Chlorophyll)waters of the Atlantic Southern Ocean. This potential impact ofPatagonian dust beyond the continental shelf attracts attention tothe global climate community, and at the same time it opens questionsabout the potential effects of dust in coastal waters. According toprevious work and ongoing studies, deposited particles can havesignificant impacts in the chemical and biological components in theeuphotic zone. However the effects of this airborne material inplankton ecosystems of South America are largely unknown, mostly dueto the lack of in situstudies andobservations. Since the events of dust mobilization, transport anddeposition are expected to increase (due to climate change) andinteract with other global change factors such as warming and moreintensive land use, the influence of dust input may become moreprominent for coastal and oceanic regions of southern South Americain the next decades.p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 10); line-height: 120%; text-align: left; }p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.cjk { font-family: "Liberation Serif"; font-size: 12pt; }p.ctl { font-family: "Liberation Serif"; font-size: 12pt; }a:link { color: rgb(0, 0, 255); }