Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic
© 2020, The Author(s).Rates and drivers of primary productivity are well understood for many terrestrial ecosystems, but remain poorly resolved for many marine ecosystems, particularly those within in coastal benthic environments. We quantified net primary productivity (NPP) using two methods as wel...
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ftunivnewcastle:oai:eprint.ncl.ac.uk:271959 2023-05-15T17:41:19+02:00 Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic Smale DA Pessarrodona A King N Burrows MT Yunnie A Vance T Moore P 1 December 2020 application/pdf https://eprint.ncl.ac.uk/fulltext.aspx?url=271959/138D5D12-3088-4659-B59F-664A253DAFE5.pdf&pub_id=271959 unknown Nature Research Scientific Reports, 1 December 2020 Article 2020 ftunivnewcastle 2020-12-17T23:25:48Z © 2020, The Author(s).Rates and drivers of primary productivity are well understood for many terrestrial ecosystems, but remain poorly resolved for many marine ecosystems, particularly those within in coastal benthic environments. We quantified net primary productivity (NPP) using two methods as well as carbon standing stock within kelp forests (Laminaria hyperborea) at multiple subtidal habitats in the United Kingdom (UK). Study sites spanned 9° in latitude and encompassed a gradient in average temperature of ~ 2.5 °C. In addition to temperature, we measured other factors (e.g. light intensity, water motion, nutrients, sea urchin density) that may influence productivity. Although estimates of NPP were highly variable between sites, ranging from 166 to 738 g C m-2 yr-1, our study-wide average of 340 g C m-2 yr-1 indicated that L. hyperborea forests are highly productive. We observed clear differences between NPP and carbon standing stock between our cold northernmost sites and our warm southernmost sites, with NPP and standing stock being around 1.5 and 2.5 times greater in the northern sites, respectively. Ocean temperature was identified as a likely driver of productivity, with reduced NPP and standing stock observed in warmer waters. Light availability was also strongly linked with carbon accumulation and storage, with increased light levels positively correlated with NPP and standing stock. Across its geographical range, total NPP from L. hyperborea is estimated at ~ 7.61 Tg C yr-1. This biomass production is likely to be important for local food webs, as a trophic subsidy to distant habitats and for inshore carbon cycling and (potentially) carbon sequestration. However, given the strong links with temperature, continued ocean warming in the northeast Atlantic may reduce primary productivity of this foundation species, as optimal temperatures for growth and performance are surpassed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northeast Atlantic Newcastle University Library ePrints Service |
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© 2020, The Author(s).Rates and drivers of primary productivity are well understood for many terrestrial ecosystems, but remain poorly resolved for many marine ecosystems, particularly those within in coastal benthic environments. We quantified net primary productivity (NPP) using two methods as well as carbon standing stock within kelp forests (Laminaria hyperborea) at multiple subtidal habitats in the United Kingdom (UK). Study sites spanned 9° in latitude and encompassed a gradient in average temperature of ~ 2.5 °C. In addition to temperature, we measured other factors (e.g. light intensity, water motion, nutrients, sea urchin density) that may influence productivity. Although estimates of NPP were highly variable between sites, ranging from 166 to 738 g C m-2 yr-1, our study-wide average of 340 g C m-2 yr-1 indicated that L. hyperborea forests are highly productive. We observed clear differences between NPP and carbon standing stock between our cold northernmost sites and our warm southernmost sites, with NPP and standing stock being around 1.5 and 2.5 times greater in the northern sites, respectively. Ocean temperature was identified as a likely driver of productivity, with reduced NPP and standing stock observed in warmer waters. Light availability was also strongly linked with carbon accumulation and storage, with increased light levels positively correlated with NPP and standing stock. Across its geographical range, total NPP from L. hyperborea is estimated at ~ 7.61 Tg C yr-1. This biomass production is likely to be important for local food webs, as a trophic subsidy to distant habitats and for inshore carbon cycling and (potentially) carbon sequestration. However, given the strong links with temperature, continued ocean warming in the northeast Atlantic may reduce primary productivity of this foundation species, as optimal temperatures for growth and performance are surpassed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Smale DA Pessarrodona A King N Burrows MT Yunnie A Vance T Moore P |
spellingShingle |
Smale DA Pessarrodona A King N Burrows MT Yunnie A Vance T Moore P Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic |
author_facet |
Smale DA Pessarrodona A King N Burrows MT Yunnie A Vance T Moore P |
author_sort |
Smale DA |
title |
Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic |
title_short |
Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic |
title_full |
Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic |
title_fullStr |
Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic |
title_sort |
environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp laminaria hyperborea in the northeast atlantic |
publisher |
Nature Research |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://eprint.ncl.ac.uk/fulltext.aspx?url=271959/138D5D12-3088-4659-B59F-664A253DAFE5.pdf&pub_id=271959 |
genre |
Northeast Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Northeast Atlantic |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, 1 December 2020 |
_version_ |
1766142809100779520 |