Global change effects on plankton from Atlantic Patagonian coastal waters: the role of interacting drivers

CABRERIZO, MARCO; MEDINA-SÁNCHEZ, JUAN; VALIÑAS, MACARENA; VILLAFAÑE, VIRGINIA; HERNANDO, MARCELO; SAAD, JUAN F.; CARRILLO, PRESENTACIÓN; NARVARTE, MAITE ANDREA; HELBLING, WALTER

Global Change in Atlantic Coastal Patagonian Ecosystems: A Journey Through Time

Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Año: 2022; p. 117 - 150

The coastal Atlantic area of Patagonia has a marked variability in physicochemical and biological properties. It is already affected by global change, as evidenced in historical patterns of environmental drivers and in direct anthropogenic influences. Here we focus on the effects of global change on plankton, mostly on phytoplankton, which constitute the base of this highly productive ecosystem. The short-term impacts range from an inhibition of primary productivity, with solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) as the dominant driver, to an enhancement mainly caused by increased inputs of nutrients. Most studies evaluated the individual responses of bacterio-, phyto-, and meroplankton to solar UVR, while a few others have assessed the spatial distribution of zooplankton in relation to anthropogenic influence. Long-term effects of global change drivers (e.g., antagonistic or synergistic) include taxonomic changes of the communities toward those dominated by potential mixo−/heterotrophic nanoflagellates, which may alter the atmosphere-sea exchange and the sequestration of CO2. The interaction of phytoplankton ? heterotrophs ? can affect the overall response to the global change of plankton food webs mainly by cascading effects, and very few studies have considered trophic interactions. Multi-trophic experiments are needed to improve our understanding of the impact of global change on the coastal plankton of Patagonia.