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Salp blooms drive strong increases in passive carbon export in the Southern Ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Moira Décima

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
    University of California at San Diego)

  • Michael R. Stukel

    (Florida State University
    Florida State University)

  • Scott D. Nodder

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA))

  • Andrés Gutiérrez-Rodríguez

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
    Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón, Avenida Príncipe de Asturias)

  • Karen E. Selph

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Adriana Lopes dos Santos

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Karl Safi

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)

  • Thomas B. Kelly

    (Florida State University
    University of Alaska)

  • Fenella Deans

    (University of Otago)

  • Sergio E. Morales

    (University of Otago)

  • Federico Baltar

    (University of Vienna)

  • Mikel Latasa

    (Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón, Avenida Príncipe de Asturias)

  • Maxim Y. Gorbunov

    (The State University of New Jersey)

  • Matt Pinkerton

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA))

Abstract

The Southern Ocean contributes substantially to the global biological carbon pump (BCP). Salps in the Southern Ocean, in particular Salpa thompsoni, are important grazers that produce large, fast-sinking fecal pellets. Here, we quantify the salp bloom impacts on microbial dynamics and the BCP, by contrasting locations differing in salp bloom presence/absence. Salp blooms coincide with phytoplankton dominated by diatoms or prymnesiophytes, depending on water mass characteristics. Their grazing is comparable to microzooplankton during their early bloom, resulting in a decrease of ~1/3 of primary production, and negative phytoplankton rates of change are associated with all salp locations. Particle export in salp waters is always higher, ranging 2- to 8- fold (average 5-fold), compared to non-salp locations, exporting up to 46% of primary production out of the euphotic zone. BCP efficiency increases from 5 to 28% in salp areas, which is among the highest recorded in the global ocean.

Suggested Citation

  • Moira Décima & Michael R. Stukel & Scott D. Nodder & Andrés Gutiérrez-Rodríguez & Karen E. Selph & Adriana Lopes dos Santos & Karl Safi & Thomas B. Kelly & Fenella Deans & Sergio E. Morales & Federico, 2023. "Salp blooms drive strong increases in passive carbon export in the Southern Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-35204-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35204-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. C. Manno & S. Fielding & G. Stowasser & E. J. Murphy & S. E. Thorpe & G. A. Tarling, 2020. "Continuous moulting by Antarctic krill drives major pulses of carbon export in the north Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. V. Loeb & V. Siegel & O. Holm-Hansen & R. Hewitt & W. Fraser & W. Trivelpiece & S. Trivelpiece, 1997. "Effects of sea-ice extent and krill or salp dominance on the Antarctic food web," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6636), pages 897-900, June.
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