| Summary: | Known for its high biological productivity, San Jorge Gulf (SJG) in Argentinian Patagonia is also an area of oil exploitation. To understand the dynamics of the SJG plankton ecosystem under several scenarios of potential hydrocarbon (HC) contamination, we present an 11-compartment biogeochemical model coupled to a turbulence model. In the coupled model, we parameterize the main physical and biological processes related to HC contamination, such as biodegradation, growth, and mortality of phyto-, zoo-, and bacterioplankton. Planktonic responses to several levels of HC contamination are studied for two physically contrasting SJG environments, a tidally well-mixed water column and a stratified water column. Results show increasing phyto-and bacterioplankton biomass with increasing HC concentration, which in turn produces more detritus. Zooplankton communities seem to respond differently depending on HC concentration, with major indirect changes occurring in the different size classes. Effects of HC contamination on biological compartments are stronger in the stratified than in the well-mixed environment. Fil: Klotz, Philippe. Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski; Canadá. Université du Québec à Rimouski; Canadá Fil: Schloss, Irene Ruth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; Argentina. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina Fil: Dumont, Dany. Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski; Canadá. Université du Québec à Rimouski; Canadá
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