KOSMOS 2013 Gullmar Fjord mesocosm study: Microzooplankton and phytoplankton community composition ...

• Main Authors: Horn, Henriette G, Sander, Nils, Stuhr, Annegret, Algueró-Muñiz, Maria, Bach, Lennart Thomas, Löder, Martin G J, Boersma, Maarten, Riebesell, Ulf, Aberle, Nicole
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2016
• Subjects: Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification BIOACID; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.867572; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.867572

Ocean acidification is considered as a crucial stressor for marine communities. In this study, we tested the effects of the IPCC RPC6.0 end-of-century acidification scenario on a natural plankton community in the Gullmar Fjord, Sweden, during a long-term mesocosm experiment from a spring bloom to a mid-summer situation. The focus of this study was on microzooplankton and its interactions with phytoplankton and mesozooplankton. The microzooplankton community was dominated by ciliates, especially small Strombidium sp., with the exception of the last days when heterotrophic dinoflagellates increased in abundance. We did not observe any effects of high CO2 on the community composition and diversity of microzooplankton. While ciliate abundance, biomass and growth rate were not affected by elevated CO2, we observed a positive effect of elevated CO2 on dinoflagellate abundances. Additionally, growth rates of dinoflagellates were significantly higher in the high CO2 treatments. Given the higher Chlorophyll a content ... : Supplement to: Horn, Henriette G; Sander, Nils; Stuhr, Annegret; Algueró-Muñiz, Maria; Bach, Lennart Thomas; Löder, Martin G J; Boersma, Maarten; Riebesell, Ulf; Aberle, Nicole (2016): Low CO2 Sensitivity of Microzooplankton Communities in the Gullmar Fjord, Skagerrak: Evidence from a Long-Term Mesocosm Study. PLoS ONE, 11(11), e0165800 ...