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Reduced mixing generates oscillations and chaos in the oceanic deep chlorophyll maximum

Author

Listed:
  • Jef Huisman

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Nga N. Pham Thi

    (Center for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI))

  • David M. Karl

    (University of Hawaii)

  • Ben Sommeijer

    (Center for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI))

Abstract

Green-belt development In many parts of the oceans a layer known as a ‘deep chlorophyll maximum’ develops about 50 to 100 metres below the surface as various opposing forces achieve a balance. Phytoplankton sinking from surface waters and taking nutrients with them meet an upward flux of nutrients fuelling new growth at a depth where there is still sufficient light. These chlorophyll-rich layers play an important role in ocean productivity. A new study shows that reduced vertical mixing can induce oscillations and chaos in phytoplankton biomass and species composition in deep chlorophyll maxima via a mismatch in the time scales of the processes that create them. This runs counter to the widely held belief that deep chlorophyll maxima are stable features that track seasonal changes in light and nutrient conditions. Climate change scenarios predict that global warming will suppress vertical mixing in the oceans: this could destabilize the phytoplankton dynamics in the deep chlorophyll maximum, with implications for oceanic primary production, phytoplankton species composition, and carbon export.

Suggested Citation

  • Jef Huisman & Nga N. Pham Thi & David M. Karl & Ben Sommeijer, 2006. "Reduced mixing generates oscillations and chaos in the oceanic deep chlorophyll maximum," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7074), pages 322-325, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:439:y:2006:i:7074:d:10.1038_nature04245
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04245
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Zhi-bin & Liu, Shu-tang & Tian, Da-dong & Wang, Da, 2021. "Stability analysis of the plankton community with advection," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    2. Shen, Anglu & Gao, Shufei & Heggerud, Christopher M. & Wang, Hao & Ma, Zengling & Yuan, Sanling, 2023. "Fluctuation of growth and photosynthetic characteristics in Prorocentrum shikokuense under phosphorus limitation: Evidence from field and laboratory," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 479(C).
    3. Chuanjun Dai & Hengguo Yu & Qing Guo & He Liu & Qi Wang & Zengling Ma & Min Zhao, 2019. "Dynamics Induced by Delay in a Nutrient-Phytoplankton Model with Multiple Delays," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-16, February.
    4. Fasma Diele & Carmela Marangi, 2019. "Geometric Numerical Integration in Ecological Modelling," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-30, December.
    5. Bouderbala, Ilhem & El Saadi, Nadjia & Bah, Alassane & Auger, Pierre, 2019. "A simulation study on how the resource competition and anti-predator cooperation impact the motile-phytoplankton groups’ formation under predation stress," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 391(C), pages 16-28.
    6. Withrow, Frances G. & Roelke, Daniel L. & Muhl, Rika M.W. & Bhattacharyya, Joydeb, 2018. "Water column processes differentially influence richness and diversity of neutral, lumpy and intransitive phytoplankton assemblages," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 370(C), pages 22-32.
    7. Serizawa, Hiroshi & Amemiya, Takashi & Itoh, Kiminori, 2010. "Effects of buoyancy, transparency and zooplankton feeding on surface maxima and deep maxima: Comprehensive mathematical model for vertical distribution in cyanobacterial biomass," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(17), pages 2028-2037.
    8. Sudakov, Ivan & Vakulenko, Sergey A. & Bruun, John T., 2022. "Stochastic physics of species extinctions in a large population," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 585(C).
    9. Urtizberea, Agurtzane & Dupont, Nicolas & Rosland, Rune & Aksnes, Dag L., 2013. "Sensitivity of euphotic zone properties to CDOM variations in marine ecosystem models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 256(C), pages 16-22.
    10. Löptien, Ulrike, 2011. "Steady states and sensitivities of commonly used pelagic ecosystem model components," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(8), pages 1376-1386.
    11. Roy, Shovonlal, 2009. "The coevolution of two phytoplankton species on a single resource: Allelopathy as a pseudo-mixotrophy," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 68-75.

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