Eddy-induced oscillations of the pycnocline affect the floristic composition and depth distribution of phytoplankton in the subtropical Pacific

Abstract

Changes in the phytoplankton population caused by a wind-induced mesoscale eddy, first located off the Hawaiian chain on 29 August 1989, were examined from 6 to 12 September 1989. These cyclonic eddies produce upwelling of nutrient-rich water into the photic zone which may induce changes in the distribution of phytoplankton. The eddy affected the depth, magnitude and composition of the chlorophyll maximum. The eddy produced an upward shift in the distribution of phytoplankton, shoaling the chlorophyll maximum to 30 m. Pigment concentrations at the chlorophyll maximum were enriched up to 2.2 times inside the eddy. Outside the eddy, the upper mixed layer (UML, ≤50 m) was dominated by cyanobacteria whereas the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) was dominated by prochlorophytes, chlorophytes and chrysophytes. Inside the eddy, the UML showed an increase in deep water taxa but little change in cyanobacteria. The observed population changes probably resulted from increased growth rates and vertical transport of cells. Based on projections of the track of the eddy, we inferred that its trail created an area of enhanced chlorophyll that was not quickly consumed, and concluded that coupling between phytoplankton and grazers was weak. The presence of such cyclonic eddies may explain some of the variability in chlorophyll concentration found in the oligotrophic subtropical Pacific.