Linking the scientific knowledge on marine frontal systems with ecosystem services

MARTINETTO, PAULINA; ALEMANY, DANIELA; BOTTO, FLORENCIA; MASTRÁNGELO, MATÍAS; FALABELLA, VALERIA; ACHA, E. MARCELO; ANTÓN, GUSTAVO; BIANCHI, ALEJANDRO; CAMPAGNA, CLAUDIO; CAÑETE, GUILLERMO; FILIPPO, PABLO; IRIBARNE, OSCAR; LATERRA, PEDRO; MARTÍNEZ, PATRICIA; NEGRI, RUBÉN; PIOLA, ALBERTO R.; ROMERO, SILVIA I.; SANTOS, DAVID; SARACENO, MARTÍN

AMBIO

ROYAL SWEDISH ACAD SCIENCES

Lugar: Estocolmo; Año: 2020

0044-7447

Primary production hotspots in the marineenvironment occur where the combination of light,turbulence, temperature and nutrients makes theproliferation of phytoplankton possible. Satellite-derivedsurface chlorophyll-a distributions indicate that theseconditions are frequently associated with sharp watermass transitions named ??marine fronts??. Given the linkbetween primary production, consumers and ecosystemfunctions, marine fronts could play a key role in theproduction of ecosystem services (ES). Using the shelfbreak front in the Argentine Sea as a study case, we showthat the high primary production found in the front is themain ecological feature that supports the production oftangible (fisheries) and intangible (recreation, regulation ofatmospheric gases) marine ES and the reason why theprovision of ES in the Argentine Sea concentrates there.This information provides support to satellite chlorophyllas a good indicator of multiple marine ES. We suggest thatmarine fronts could be considered as marine ES hot spots.