Marine Ecological Time Series “Estación Permanente de Estudios Ambientales (EPEA)”– Southwestern Atlantic

LUTZ, V.; ALLEGA, L.; BERGHOFF, C.; CARIGNAN, M.; CEPEDA, G.; COZZOLINO, E.; DEL VALLE, D.; DÍAZ VERA, M.; DI MAURO, R; EPHERRA, L.; FERNÁNDEZ ACUÑA, J.; DO SOUTO, M.; GIORGINI, M. ·; HOZBOR, C.; LEONARDUZZI, E.; LUZ CLARA, M.; MAENZA, A.R.; MONTOYA, N.; PERESUTTI, S.; RUIZ, G.; SEGURA, V.; SILVA, R.; NEGRI, R.

Plymouth

Simposio; Symposium Trends, Reflections, Evolution, and Visions in Ocean Research ? A celebration of the scientific life of Trevor Platt; 2023

Trevor Platt Science Foundation

Marine ecological time series (METS), involving environmental and biological sampling from a ship, offer crucial information to attempt to discern natural variations from those influenced by global change. The program “Dynamics of Marine Plankton and Climate Change” from INIDEP carries out studies at different METS in the southwestern Atlantic: the coastal stations EPEA and El Veril, and three sections COSTAL (coast to shelf-break). EPEA (38º28'S - 57º41'W) has been systematically sampled, ideally on a monthly frequency, since February 2000. An ensemble of physical, bio-optical and biogeochemical variables, all components of the plankton (bacterio-, phyto-, zoo-, and ichtyo-plankton), as well as some physiological processes (primary production, nutritional condition of larvae) are studied at this site. New relevant problematics have been addressed along the way; e.g., ocean acidification and micro-plastic contamination. EPEA also facilitates the collection of in situ data to validate satellite information. Here we present the work being developed at EPEA (e.g., variables sampled, thesis and publications produced). EPEA is still young (24 years) to elucidate climate change effects; nevertheless a basic understanding of the behavior of the system and its variability has emerged. Throughout the time series some trends of change have been detected; chlorophyll-a has increased, especially in the fraction associated to small-size phytoplankton, and its seasonality shows a conspicuous feature with the highest values towards end of winter. The continuation in time of observations at EPEA, integrated to others obtained in the region and global ocean, contributes knowledge required to interpret variations at a climatic scale.