Seasonal mixed layer depth shapes phytoplankton physiology, viral production, and accumulation in the North Atlantic.

ABSTRACT: Seasonal shifts in phytoplankton accumulation and loss largely follow changes in mixed layer depth, but the impact of mixed layer depth on cell physiology remains unexplored. Here, we investigate the physiological state of phytoplankton populations associated with distinct bloom phases and mixing regimes in the North Atlantic. Stratification and deep mixing alter community physiology and viral production, effectively shaping accumulation rates. Communities in relatively deep, early-spring mixed layers are characterized by low levels of stress and high accumulation rates, while those in the recently shallowed mixed layers in late-spring have high levels of oxidative stress. Prolonged stratification into early autumn manifests in negative accumulation rates, along with pronounced signatures

SUBMITTER: Diaz BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8599477 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature