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Contrasting climate oscillations impacts on phytoplankton in the western and eastern tropical Pacific

Author

Listed:
  • Lina An

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology)

  • Edward A. Laws

    (Louisiana State University, Department of Environmental Sciences, College of the Coast & Environment)

  • Xin Liu

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology)

  • Ruiying Chen

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences)

  • Shanlin Wang

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences)

  • Shijian Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and Waves, Institute of Oceanology)

  • Yuchen Zhang

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology)

  • Yibin Huang

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences)

  • Feipeng Xu

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology)

  • Fei Chai

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences)

  • Bangqin Huang

    (Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology)

Abstract

Climate oscillations like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation significantly impact marine ecosystems. Traditionally, warm events are thought to suppress nutrient availability, reduce phytoplankton biomass, and change community structure. However, using two decades of field observations, remote sensing, Copernicus reanalysis, and Earth system modeling, we find very different responses in the western tropical Pacific. During El Niño, chlorophyll concentrations and diatom contributions increase, while La Niña reverses that trend. The further amplification of these El Niño-Southern Oscillation-driven contrasts by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation can be attributed to its effects on regional circulation, including the enhancement of eddy activity that facilitates upwelling of nutrients and stimulates phytoplankton production. These findings go beyond the simple narrative of community structure shifts and suggest more complex physical-biological responses in the tropical Pacific. Consideration of these mechanisms will be crucial for improvement of climate change predictions and development of strategies for sustainable management.

Suggested Citation

  • Lina An & Edward A. Laws & Xin Liu & Ruiying Chen & Shanlin Wang & Shijian Hu & Yuchen Zhang & Yibin Huang & Feipeng Xu & Fei Chai & Bangqin Huang, 2025. "Contrasting climate oscillations impacts on phytoplankton in the western and eastern tropical Pacific," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65947-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65947-x
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