Calcareous phytoplankton response to the half century of interannual climatic variability in Santa Barbara Basin (California)

B. De Bernardi, P. Ziveri, E. Erba, R.C. Thunell

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    A high-resolution study of calcareous phytoplankton in a box core from the Santa Barbara Basin (SBB) reveals floral assemblage fluctuations which can be related to climatic and paleoceanographic changes during the last half century (1940-1996). In particular, Gephyrocapsa oceanica production increased during El Niño periods, in response to high temperatures, silica depletion, and increased iron availability. Conversely, Helicosphaera carteri flux increases in conjunction with lower surface temperatures associated with La Niña episodes. Increasing abundances of Florisphaera profunda and Umbilicosphaera sibogae after 1970 reflect a warming trend and increased stratification within the basin associated with the warm phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Conversely, increased abundances of Coccolithus pelagicus and Calcidiscus leptoporus before 1970 mark the cold phase of PDO. These coccolithophore production rate data are consistent with instrumental records of surface and thermocline temperatures monitored since 1950. This is the first study to document the response of calcareous phytoplankton to surface water warming occurring in SBB since 1970. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)PA2215
    JournalPaleoceanography
    Volume23
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Bibliographical note

    doi:10.1029/2007PA001503

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