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

VILLAFAÑE, VIRGINIA E.; CABRERIZO, MARCO J.; CARRILLO, PRESENTACIÓN; MARCELO P HERNANDO; MEDINA-SÁNCHEZ, JUAN M.; NARVARTE, MAITE A.; SAAD, JUAN F.; VALIÑAS, MACARENA S.; HELBLING, E. WALTER

Global change in Atlantic coastal Patagonian ecosystems: A journey through time

Springer Nature

Año: 2022; p. 117 - 150

The coastal Atlantic area of Patagonia has a marked variability inphysicochemical and biological properties. It is already affected by globalchange, as evidenced in historical patterns of environmental drivers andin direct anthropogenic influences. Here we focus on the effects of globalchange on plankton, mostly on phytoplankton, which constitute the baseof this highly productive ecosystem. The short-term impacts range from aninhibition of primary productivity, with solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) asthe dominant driver, to an enhancement mainly caused by increased inputs ofnutrients. Most studies evaluated the individual responses of bacterio-, phyto-,and meroplankton to solar UVR, while a few others have assessed the spatialdistribution of zooplankton in relation to anthropogenic influence. Long-termeffects of global change drivers (e.g., antagonistic or synergistic) includetaxonomic changes of the communities toward those dominated by potentialmixo-/heterotrophic nanoflagellates, which may alter the atmosphere-seaexchange and the sequestration of CO2. The interaction of phytoplanktons ?heterotrophs ? can affect the overall response to the global change of planktonfood webs mainly by cascading effects, and very few studies have consideredtrophic interactions. Multi-trophic experiments are needed to improve ourunderstanding of the impact of global change on the coastal plankton ofPatagonia.