Work

Global pattern of phytoplankton diversity driven by temperature and environmental variability

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Despite their importance to ocean productivity, global patterns of marine phytoplankton diversity remain poorly characterized. Although temperature is considered a key driver of general marine biodiversity, its specific role in phytoplankton diversity has remained unclear. We determined monthly phytoplankton species richness by using niche modeling and >540,000 global phytoplankton observations to predict biogeographic patterns of 536 phytoplankton species. Consistent with metabolic theory, phytoplankton richness in the tropics is about three times that in higher latitudes, with temperature being the most important driver. However, below 19°C, richness is lower than expected, with ~8°- 14°C waters (~35° to 60° latitude) showing the greatest divergence from theoretical predictions. Regions of reduced richness are characterized by maximal species turnover and environmental variability, suggesting that the latter reduces species richness directly, or through enhancing competitive exclusion. The nonmonotonic relationship between phytoplankton richness and temperature suggests unanticipated complexity in responses of marine biodiversity to ocean warming.

Source: Science Advances

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau6253

Authors: Damiano Righetti, Meike Vogt, Nicolas Gruber, Achilleas Psomas, Niklaus E. Zimmermann

Institutions: ETH Zurich, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

Language: English

Topic: Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies

Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,500