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The first multidisciplinary characterisation of Bowditch Seamount in the Sargasso Sea was conducted to provide new baseline knowledge of the biodiversity, geomorphology, oceanography and glacial history of this seamount. A dropframe camera transect 1483–1562 m deep on the seamount documented 77 megafaunal taxa including Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem indicator taxa such as sponges, cold-water corals, and stalked crinoids. Seabed terrain analysis of multibeam echosounder data showed species varied significantly along this transect in response to local geomorphological variability (R2 adj = 31%, p < 0.0001), with changes in seafloor relief and substrata driving species composition over the seamount. 14C-calibrated and 230Th-ages of fossil corals (Desmophyllum dianthus) collected by Van Veen grabs 1517 m deep showed corals thrived on the seamount ∼24 ka BP and ∼17 ka BP. Abrupt excursions between higher and lower radiogenic ε Nd -composition values of the skeletons suggested that D. dianthus persisted on the seamount over times of southern source water input and detrital sediments from the melting Laurentide Ice Sheet, respectively. In agreement with other studies from the western North Atlantic, living D. dianthus were absent in the contemporary setting at these depths, and suggest a significant re-organisation of the seamount community since the deglacial when ice-rafted debris of carbonates likely resulted in a lower aragonite compensation depth allowing D. dianthus to proliferate at deeper depths. New conductivity-depth-temperature profiling revealed the seamount at these depths is now bathed by highly oxygenated Labrador Sea Water (LSW) formed at high latitudes. Co-analysis of a newly constructed 70-year long time series of temperature and salinity for the Labrador Sea and Bermuda regions revealed a 10-year transit time from high latitudes to Bowditch Seamount. This multidisciplinary approach shows how geomorphology drives local biodiversity patterns, but also how upstream climatic forcing in subpolar regions may influence Bermuda's subtropical seamount ecosystem. •Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem indicators such as sponges, cold-water corals, and stalked crinoids were observed. • Gradients in seafloor relief and substrata control species composition. • Fossil corals once thrived on the seamount ∼24 ka BP and ∼17 ka BP in relation to remote forcing events. • A 70-year long time series of temperature and salinity reveals a 10-year transit time from the Labrador Sea to Bermuda. • Variability in Labrador Sea Water states could spread to the seamount in 10 years or less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NW Moroccan Margin has a complex geological evolution, being located close to the transition zone between the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture Zone and the western front of the Betic–Rif collisional orogen. The interaction between tectonic, halokinetic and fluid flow processes with bottom-current activity shapes the seafloor and influences the distribution of seafloor biological communities (such as the cold-water coral mounds) and deep-water sedimentation. The aims of this work are to study the interaction of the paleo-oceanographic and morpho-tectonic processes that generated the various seafloor features of the NW Moroccan Margin. To achieve this, high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and parasound data acquired in the "ALBOCA II" cruise have been used, complemented by high-resolution 2D seismic reflection data and the EMODnet bathymetric compilation. Several morphological features were identified in the margin, which are related to different processes of sedimentary (contourites and sediment waves), structural (faults and diapirs), gravitational (slide scars, mass transport deposits), fluid migration (mud volcanoes and pockmarks) and biogenic (exposed and buried coral mounds) nature. The structural features (e.g., strike-slip faults) have a major control on the seafloor morphology and, consequently, on the development and evolution of the sedimentary systems in the study area. The evolution of the NW Moroccan Margin during the late Quaternary has been controlled by climatic variations and tectonic activity. The action of these factors has been dominant in distinct parts of the study area where: i) contourite terraces developed when climatic and oceanographic changes were the prevalent factor, ii) mounded and confined contourite drifts and local mass transport deposits formed when the major control was tectonic activity. • Integration of geomorphological, seismostratigraphic and oceanographic results at NW Moroccan Margin. • Structural features and recent tectonic activity have been a major influence on the seafloor morphology evolution. • Newly discovered contourite terraces, plastered sheeted, mounded, and confined drifts. • Bottom-water circulation and climatic variations have controlled the sedimentary processes shaping the margin. • Water-mass changes and interfaces shaped contourite terraces, sediment waves, and cold-water coral distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mindanao Dome (MD) upwelling system has important implications for the local and even the global air-sea interaction, but its changing process in hydroecological conditions and response mechanism influenced by ENSO cycle are still unclear. The evolution of MD upwelling process and the changes in hydro-climatic environments in MD region in three typical El Niño, La Niña, and normal years during ENSO event from 2010 to 2015 are analyzed. Results reveal that migration of surface water is the main factor controlling the changes in the intensity of the MD upwelling during this ENSO cycle but not the variations in wind stress curl. Massive westward accumulation (eastward movement) of surface warm water and strengthened (weakened) upwelling Rossby waves together induce the enhancement (weakness) of the MD upwelling during mature phase of 2015/2016 El Niño (2010/2011 La Niña) year. In addition, NECC and MD upwelling together control the biological activities in surface waters in MD region during this ENSO cycle. The meandering NECC and MD upwelling both strengthen (weaken) when 2015/2016 El Niño (2010/2011 La Niña) occur, which transport more (less) nutrients to surface sea from horizontal and vertical levels, respectively, leading to an increase (decrease) in surface Chl- a. Two synopsis mechanisms are proposed to illustrate the response mechanism of the MD upwelling evolution and eco-hydro-climatic variations in the MD region to 2015/2016 El Niño (2010/2011 La Niña) event, respectively. This paper highlights the prospect for the role played by ENSO cycle in local ecological effects and hydro-climatic evolution, which further has profound implications for understanding the influence of the global climate change on the ocean carbon cycle. • Surface water migration controlled the MD upwelling variation during ENSO cycle from 2010 to 2015. • Surface biological activity is controlled by NECC and MD upwelling during ENSO cycle. • Two conceptual maps of the oceanic process changes during El Niño and La Niña events are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding variations in marine phytoplankton primary production (PP) is crucial for assessing the response of the marine environment to climate change and for quantifying the ocean carbon cycle. However, the spatiotemporal variability of size-fractionated PP in the South China Sea (SCS) remains ambiguous. Our study investigated the monthly, seasonal, and inter-annual variability of size-fractionated PP in the SCS using satellite observations from 2002 to 2022. There were noticeable seasonal and monthly variations in size-fractionated PP, with notably high PP values appearing during the cold season. The disparities in distribution and the distinct fluctuation patterns between size-fractionated PP suggest that total PP alone is not a comprehensive indicator of marine ecosystem health. Over the past two decades in the SCS, there were more pronounced decreases in total, pico-, and nano-PP, whereas micro-PP displayed no significant trend. The most pronounced decline occurred in the northern SCS, contrasted by increases in coastal areas. These size-fractionated PP anomalies showed strong correlations with climate change indices, highlighting the impact of environmental factors on these anomalies, such as sea surface temperature, mixed layer depth, and wind speed. Our findings emphasize the importance considering size-fractionated PP to gain a more nuanced understanding of the ocean carbon cycle and the marine ecosystem's response to climate changes. • Reveals significant seasonal and interannual variations in size-fractionated phytoplankton PP in the SCS. • Highlights the influence of SST, MLD and wind speed on anomalies in size-fractionated phytoplankton PP. • Emphasizes that climate variability has a significant impact on variations in size-fractionated phytoplankton PP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The study of contourite drifts is an increasingly used tool for understanding the climate history of the oceans. In this paper we analyse two contourite drifts along the continental margin west of Spitsbergen, just south of the Fram Strait where significant water mass exchanges impact the Arctic climate. We detail the internal geometry and the morphologic characteristics of the two drifts on the base of multichannel seismic reflection data, sub-bottom profiles and bathymetry. These mounded features, that we propose to name Isfjorden and Bellsund drifts, are located on the continental slope between 1200 and 1800m depth, whereas the upper slope is characterized by reduced- or non-deposition. The more distinct Isfjorden Drift is about 25km wide and 45km long, and over 200ms TWT thick. We revise the 13 years-long time series of velocity, temperature, and salinity obtained from a mooring array across the Fram Strait. Two distinct current cores are visible in the long-term average. The shallower current core has an average northward velocity of about 20cm/s, while the deeper bottom current core at about 1450m depth has an average northward velocity of about 9cm/s. We consider Norwegian Sea Deep Water episodically ventilated by relatively dense and turbid shelf water from the Barents Sea responsible for the accumulation of the contourites. The onset of the drift growth west of Spitsbergen is inferred to be about 1.3Ma and related to the Early Pleistocene glacial expansion recorded in the area. The lack of mounded contouritic deposits on the continental slope of the Storfjorden is related to consecutive erosion by glacigenic debris flows. The Isfjorden and Bellsund drifts are inferred to contain the record of the regional palaeoceanography and glacial history and may constitute an excellent target of future scientific drilling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the first compilation of information on the spatial distribution of scleractinian cold-water corals in the Gulf of Cádiz based on literature research and own observations (video footage, sediment samples). Scleractinian cold-water corals are widely distributed along the Spanish and Moroccan margins in the Gulf of Cádiz, where they are mainly associated with mud volcanoes, diapiric ridges, steep fault escarpments, and coral mounds. Dendrophyllia cornigera, Dendrophyllia alternata, Eguchipsammia cornucopia, Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa are the most abundant reef-forming species. Today, they are almost solely present as isolated patches of fossil coral and coral rubble. The absence of living scleractinian corals is likely related to a reduced food supply caused by low productivity and diminished tidal effects. In contrast, during the past 48kyr scleractinian corals were abundant in the Gulf of Cádiz, although their occurrence demonstrates no relationship with main climatic or oceanographic changes. Nevertheless, there exists a conspicuous relationship when the main species are considered separately. Dendrophylliids are associated with periods of relatively stable and warm conditions. The occurrence of L. pertusa mainly clusters within the last glacial when bottom current strength in the Gulf of Cádiz was enhanced and long-term stable conditions existed in terms of temperature. Madrepora oculata shows a higher tolerance to abrupt environmental changes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The biomass of aquatic organisms largely determines the mass and energy flow within an ecosystem, but the long-term impact of environmental change on biomass is not well constrained for a number of clades. Here, we test the hypothesis that bivalve biomass is negatively impacted by warming climate over time. This study is based on a fossil marine bivalve fauna recovered from hemipelagic sediments deposited in the eastern Mediterranean during climate cycles (marine isotope stages (MIS) 22–18; 900–712 kyr B.P.) of the Early–Middle Pleistocene Transition. We reconstruct individual shell biomasses from fossils and discuss the various biotic and abiotic factors that controlled long-term shell biomass patterns across this important interval in the Earth climate system. The results are contrary to the original hypothesis, suggesting that the response to temperature is not universal. Nevertheless, a decrease in median biomass is observed during the MIS 19 warm period and can be possibly attributed to the combined effect of multiple drivers that cooperated at that critical time in the past, including higher temperature and primary productivity, reduced ventilation of the sea floor, biodiversity changes due to geographic range shifts, and considering species- and age-specific thermal tolerances. Generally, bivalve biomass at the community level is determined by relative abundance and shell biomass-frequency distribution. In our study, the relative abundance and median biomass of small species do not increase or decrease, respectively, in warmer periods. However, larger species are negatively affected by warming both in terms of relative abundance and biomass. • We reconstruct deep-water bivalve biomass for Pleistocene eastern Mediterranean from fossil shells. • Compare median biomasses at species and community level in warm versus cold period within MIS 22–18. • Bivalve shell biomass response to temperature is not universal. • Decrease in median biomass is observed during the MIS 19 warm period. • Larger species are negatively affected by warming both in terms of relative abundance and biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Messinian, the sensitivity of the Mediterranean Basin to ecosystem perturbation was enhanced in response to the progressive restriction of water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean. The widespread deposition of organic-rich layers (i.e. sapropel) during the Messinian testifies the perturbation of the carbon and oxygen cycles; indeed, these sediments were deposited under conditions of oxygen starvation, presumably in response to a periodic deterioration of the thermohaline circulation strength. Disentangling the causes, the effect and magnitude of the thermohaline circulation weakening during the geological past is crucial for better constraining present and near-future deoxygenation dynamics in the Mediterranean region under the current climate warming. For this purpose, we investigate a Messinian sapropel-bearing succession cropping out at Monte dei Corvi (Ancona, central Italy) with mineralogical, petrographic, micropaleontological and stable Carbon and Oxygen isotopic analyses. We show that sapropel layers were deposited in response to an increase of the sea surface buoyancy, which hampered the thermohaline circulation and thus the oxygenation of bottom water, in turn affecting the bioturbating organisms. Within the lithological cycle, the recovery of an efficient thermohaline circulation is recorded by thin packstone layers underlying the marly limestone/marlstone, which record intense bottom currents. The marly limestone/marlstone accumulated during periods of intense primary productivity and organic carbon export to the sea bottom, which promoted bottom hypoxia but not organic matter preservation. We infer that these lithological changes resulted from variations in the Adriatic Deep Water formation system, controlled by precession-driven climatic and oceanographic changes. By integrating previously published Sea Surface Temperature (SST) with new isotopic and mineralogical data, we show that variations in Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) were the leading factor controlling sapropel deposition, minimizing the role of primary productivity. The SSTs characterizing the sapropel deposits are close to the range of those projected in the Eastern Mediterranean at the end of this century under climate warming. In this scenario, future warming will be coupled with SSS increase, which will counteract the density loss provided by temperature, making the bottom deoxygenation in the Eastern Mediterranean abysses unlikely. However, additional forcing, such as winter heat waves and eutrophication, could contribute to negatively affecting the Mediterranean oxygen balance and should be considered in model-based projections. • The Monte dei Corvi recorded the changes in the ADW formation during the Messinian. • The bottom deoxygenation resulted from variations in the freshwater input. • Future deoxygenation in Mediterranean can be provided by productivity or heatwaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continental margins of the Arctic Ocean basin contain methane seeps, where transient fluxes of seafloor methane are released due to the thermal dissociation of gas hydrates. An increase in shallow methane seeps identified over the past decade, potentially due to enhanced warming of the Arctic Ocean bottom water and associated destabilization of hydrate structure. Biological communities associated with methane release east of Svalbard in the Barents Sea (Storbanken Crater site, 76° 46.7′N, 35° 43.5′E, depths between 120 m–300 m depths) were investigated using towed camera imagery and ship-based platforms during a 2017 CAGE17-2 cruise on the RV Helmer Hanssen. We analyzed relationships among methane flux data, seafloor habitat characteristics, and biological community structure (i.e., presence and distribution of megafauna and expression of microbial mats) from a total of 14 surveys (6827 images and 40 multicore sediment cores) within the Storbanken Crater area and compared it to 2015 data. Unlike seep expressions at deeper sites (∼1200 m) in the Norwegian margin region, no seep-endemic, chemosynthetic-associated megafaunal species were observed at the shallow surveyed sites and all sites hosted similarly diverse communities of non-seep species, including commercially important fish and crustaceans. Methane concentrations did not markedly differ between the crater and non-crater sites. Rates of methane gas advection through sediments (in the form of flares) were relatively low and concentration of methane was even lower in porewater samples at the crater site. We present the first evidence of methane flare flux and intermittent microbial mat distribution with associated folliculinid ciliates, which suggests a long history of methane emissions and a transient seep environment in spatial and temporal flux. Together, this study presents a critical baseline on the temporal release of arctic methane and benthic biological communities to initiate temporal studies that identify future changes and predict the impact of climate change. • Reduced methane flares along the Norwegian margin and low methane in the sediment suggest a transient seep environment. • Metazoan community structure within the Storbanken Crater area revealed high diversity between crater and non-crater sites. • We present the first evidence of methane release with microbial mat distribution and associated folliculinid ciliates. • No chemosynthetic megafaunal species were observed among areas of seep expression in the areas surveyed. • We provide baseline information on temporal methane release and biological communities in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in the study of mesopelagic and bathypelagic species due to their implication in the active carbon flux and climate change. Underwater acoustics is one of the most efficient methods to study such widely distributed communities. However, there are several challenges among which the reduced spatial resolution with depth for vessel-mounted echosounders stands out. The increase in sampling volume with range precludes observation of fine structures within the scattering layers or the study of less-aggregated organisms far from the transducer face. Echosounders are thus increasingly being deployed in alternative platforms that get the transducer close to the layers of interest. We present here the comparison between two active acoustic platforms used to analyse mesopelagic and bathypelagic species: a vessel-mounted EK60 scientific echosounder and a 6000 m depth rated Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) attached to a CTD rosette. Both systems depicted similar vertical distributions and scattering at 38 kHz for the main scattering layers recorded around the Canary Islands but the finer vertical resolution of the AZFP discerned a series of sub-layers within them that differed in scattering, avoidance and sparsity. The availability of high frequencies at depth also provided further insights on the frequency response of those layers. However, the horizontal orientation of the AZFP created sidelobe artefacts close to the surface and bottom that limit its use in those areas. Signal-to-noise ratio of the AZFP system in the bathypelagic zone also precludes applying echointegration analysis at those depths or outside the denser scattering layers. Finally, the visualization of horizontal or temporal patterns such as migration or mesoscale features is limited to a coarse resolution using data from closely spaced successive stations. New challenges encountered with vertically-deployed echosounders and recommendations for their use are pointed out. Although no scattering layers were detected in the bathypelagic zone, this study unveils an area never before recorded acoustically. • We present an acoustic device that can reach 6000 m of depth. • The horizontal beam orientation ensures a constant ensonified sampling volume but adds some artefacts. • Similar scattering layers are detected for coincident frequencies with respect to the vessel echosounder but distinct sublayers are revealed. • Layers' sparsity and avoidance could be potential discriminating properties. • Echointegration can only be applied within dense layers at close range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meiobenthos are bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrates having a size range of 63–500 μm. They play a pivotal role in ecosystem functioning, biogeochemical and trophic nutrient cycling. Due to the presence of Antarctic Circumpolar Current and steep gradient in nutrients and temperature, many taxa of the Southern Ocean (SO) show diverse biodiversity patterns in comparison to other deep sea areas of the world. Over the years, several Indian SO Expeditions have been carried out in the Indian sector of SO (ISSO), but this is a pioneer attempt to unveil the meiobenthic community structure and their functional diversity pattern from Prydz Bay (Indian sector of Southern Ocean), Antarctica. Meiobenthic community structures were investigated in eight different sampling sites along with their vertical profiling from the Prydz Bay during the austral summer 2020. Total meiofaunal abundance ranged from 24 to 521 indv. 10 cm-2, with the highest abundance recorded at station 23 and the lowest at station 9. A total of 9 meiobenthic taxa were found from this eco-region, with the highest percentage being the free-living marine nematodes as metazoan taxa. A total of 86 free-living nematode species were identified, where Sabatieria was the most common genus and represented by eleven species. Several univariate and multivariate analyses deciphered a distinct spatial variation in the meiobenthic community structure. Sediment texture and depth were the most significant environmental variables in shaping nematode assemblages. Biological Trait Analysis was performed using a total of 24 traits in 5 categories to unravel the functional diversity of free-living marine nematodes. The most dominant morphotypes were slender body shape, conical tail shape, dotted cuticle pattern, and non-selective deposit feeders with colonizing abilities of 2 (c–p score 2, in a scale from 1 to 5). Maturity Index (MI) and Index of Trophic Diversity (ITD) were highest in stations 15 and 32, respectively. RLQ approach with fourth-corner analysis was used to decipher the relationship between traits and environmental parameters. The RLQ analysis revealed the positive association of non-selective deposit feeder and slender body-shaped nematodes with higher water depth. The characterization of meiobenthic (especially nematode) communities in the context of taxonomic and functional attributes could help to evaluate the ecological status of ISSO. Further long term monitoring is also needed to get a comprehensive idea about their role in benthic ecosystem functioning in the milieu of global climate change. • Meiobenthic community structure was assessed selecting 8 stations in Prydz Bay. • Top 2 cm of the sediment harbored nearly 60% of the total meiofaunal community. • Nematode was the most dominant metazoan taxa dominated by genus Sabatieria. • 86 free-living nematode species were documented, 11 belongs to genus Sabatieria. • Functional diversity of nemato-faunal community was unraveled through BTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Atmospheric deposition is the main input of mercury (Hg) to the ocean, even in remote locations such as the Arctic. Furthermore, evasion of elemental Hg (Hg°) is the major sink for oceanic Hg. As a result, air-sea exchange is an important part of the oceanic Hg cycle. To examine the air-sea exchange of Hg in the Arctic Ocean we made high resolution measurements of Hg° in surface waters and Hg speciation in the atmosphere using continuous sampling systems during the 2015 U.S. Arctic GEOTRACES cruise from August 9 to October 12. Additionally, samples were obtained for measurement of total Hg and methylmercury (CH 3 Hg) in wet deposition and bulk aerosols as well as surface snow and sea ice. We used these measurements made in the water and the atmosphere to estimate fluxes of Hg° from the ocean to the atmosphere. Concentrations of dissolved Hg° (Hg° diss) were near saturation in ice-free waters (32 ± 30 fM) and resultant fluxes were low; however, Hg° was highly enriched under contiguous ice (101 ± 98 fM, up to 544 fM) suggesting the continual formation of Hg° in waters even when ice covered. Predicted evasion fluxes in these regions (these being potential rates for locations under ice) were as high as 492 pmol m−2 h−1. Atmospheric Hg° concentrations averaged 1.2 ± 0.1 ng m−3 with little variation over the course of the cruise even above waters with elevated Hg° diss , indicating that sea ice acts as a barrier to air-sea exchange. Measurements of Hg in precipitation and aerosols were lower than have been found in more coastal regions of the Arctic. We used these concentrations to estimate deposition of Hg and CH 3 Hg during the time of the cruise. Overall, wet deposition represented 88% of the CH 3 Hg flux and 38% of the Hg T flux. Our flux estimates confirm the importance of air-sea exchange in Hg cycling in the Arctic and suggest that evasion was greater than deposition, indicating a net loss of Hg from the Arctic during this period or the presence of other sources not measured during this study. Additionally, our results suggest that fluxes for offshore waters are lower than found in coastal regions of the Arctic. From these estimates, we predict how Hg concentrations may respond to future changes in ice cover and other potential impacts of climate change on Hg dynamics and food web bioaccumulation in this important ocean region. Highlights • Dissolved Hg° was supersaturated under ice but near saturation in open waters. • Sea ice acted as a barrier to air-sea exchange of Hg. • Atmospheric Hg° concentrations (averaging 1.2 ± 0.1 ng m−3) were relatively constant. • Hg in precipitation and aerosols lower over open ocean than in coastal locations. • Hg° fluxes were predicted for open and ice-covered waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Chronostratigraphy, of a northern Gulf of Mexico Lophelia pertusa (cold-water coral) mound (Roberts Reef), indicated that mound development included periods of growth and non-growth that are closely tied to Late Pleistocene climate cycles. U/Th and 14C dating of coral fragments in two ~ 16 m cores (mound crest and mound flank) and foraminiferal biostratigraphy provided a stratigraphic framework that identified five mound-growth sequences separated by four hiatuses, a total of ~ 300 ka. Mound growth occurred during interglacials while non-growth and unconformity formation correlates to glacial periods. In each cycle, growth on the mound flank persisted after growth at the crest ceased. Results of our study suggest warming bottom-water as the most probable environmental condition for limiting L. pertusa growth and mound accretion as sea level fell toward a glacial maximum. At highstands of sea level, the mound resided in the Oxygen Minimum Layer with a present temperature range of ~ 9.0–12.8 °C. During falling-to-lowstands of sea level, isotherms of warm, Subtropical Underwater (~ 12.8–21 °C) progressively exposed the mound to water above the thermal range for L. pertusa. A comparison of non-growth periods in the mound cores indicates that coral mortality and suppression of mound growth started at the crest and moved down the flank, a trend that supports progressive immersion of the mound in warm Subtropical Underwater. Multiday episodes of vertical down-mixing may have also transported warm ocean water, above the tolerance level of Lophelia, to the mound. Present average bottom-water temperatures at the mound crest range between 9 and 10.5 °C, ideal for L. pertusa growth in the Gulf of Mexico. Experimental work indicates that relatively short periods (weeks) of L. pertusa exposure to water of ~ 12–14 °C results in mortality. At periods of lowered sea level, the mound is projected to have been immersed in ocean water of ~ 12–14 °C for millennial scale time periods. Highlights • A large (~ 40 m relief) Lophelia mound was discovered in the NE Gulf of Mexico. • U/Th dating revealed 5 mound growth periods separated by unconformities(~300 ka over 16.5m) • Mound growth correlates to interglacials and non-growth periods to glacials. • Warm water is proposed as the stressor responsible for coral mortality. • Falling sea level is the main driver to displace warm water down to the mound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Predicting marine carbon sequestration in a changing climate requires mechanistic understanding of the processes controlling sinking particle flux under different climatic conditions. The recent occurrence of a warm anomaly (2014–2015) followed by an El Niño (2015–2016) in the southern sector of the California Current System presented an opportunity to analyze changes in the biological carbon pump in response to altered climate forcing. We compare primary production, mesozooplankton grazing, and carbon export from the euphotic zone during quasi-Lagrangian experiments conducted in contrasting conditions: two cruises during warm years - one during the warm anomaly in 2014 and one toward the end of El Niño 2016 – and three cruises during El Niño-neutral years. Results showed no substantial differences in the relationships between vertical carbon export and its presumed drivers (primary production, mesozooplankton grazing) between warm and neutral years. Mesozooplankton fecal pellet enumeration and phaeopigment measurements both showed that fecal pellets were the dominant contributor to export in productive upwelling regions. In more oligotrophic regions, fluxes were dominated by amorphous marine snow with negligible pigment content. We found no evidence for a significant shift in the relationship between mesozooplankton grazing rate and chlorophyll concentration. However, mass-specific grazing rates were lower at low-to-moderate chlorophyll concentrations during warm years relative to neutral years. We also detected a significant difference in the relationship between phytoplankton primary production and photosynthetically active radiation between years: at similar irradiance and nutrient concentrations, productivity decreased during the warm events. Whether these changes resulted from species composition changes remains to be determined. Overall, our results suggest that the processes driving export remain similar during different climate conditions, but that species compositional changes or other structural changes require further attention. Highlights • Productivity, grazing, and export were measured during El Niño-neutral and warm years. • Carbon export and controlling processes were similar during both climatic conditions. • Net primary production was lower at similar light and nutrients during warm years. • When export was high, it was associated with sinking mesozooplankton fecal pellets. • When export was low, sinking particles were predominantly unrecognizable POM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcifying marine organisms include planktic foraminifers that contribute to the marine carbon turnover by generating inorganic carbon production (CaCO 3 , shell) and flux. In this study, we have analyzed assemblages at the morphospecies level and abundances of living planktic foraminifers (LPF) from ten stations located in the Southwest Indian Ocean, and sampled in austral summer 2012. LPF density ranges from zero in the Subtropical Zone (STZ) to 944 individuals m −3 in the Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ), and is composed by up to 80% by the four species Neogloboquadrina pachyderma , Neogloboquadrina incompta , Globigerina bulloides, and Globigerinita uvula . For the entire region, we measured the individual morphometry and test mass (CaCO 3 ) of 454 tests of living planktic foraminifers in order to calculate inorganic carbon standing stocks, as well as carbon flux. In the STZ, the average daily planktic foraminifer CaCO 3 flux at 100 m water depth is low (< 0.22 mg m −2 d −1 ), whereas south of the Sub-Antarctic Zone (SAZ), in the PFZ and Antarctic Zone (AAZ), it reaches up to 49.41 mg m −2 d −1 , and 2.20 mg m −2 d −1 , respectively. The large regional variability in CaCO 3 production and flux of LPF assemblages affects the marine carbonate system to varying degrees, depending on hydrological conditions. We conclude that recent changes in the position of hydrological fronts could induce a decrease in the LPF-related carbonate counter pump, which increases the oceanic uptake of CO 2 , and counteracts climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this short communication, we present a multidisciplinary study of sedimentary records collected from a deep-sea interfluve proximal to the mouths of major northwestern Madagascan rivers. For the last 60 years, the seafloor has been repeatedly disturbed by the deposition of organic rich, tropical, terrestrial sediments causing marked reductions in benthic biodiversity. Increased soil erosion due to local land-use, deforestation and intensifying tropical cyclones are potential causes for this sedimentary budget and biodiversity shift. Our marine sedimentary records indicate that until now, these conditions have not occurred within the region for at least 20,000 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoscale eddies drive variability in phytoplankton functional trait composition and primary productivity (PP) relative to adjacent waters. Offshore waters in southeast Australia are subject to substantial mesoscale eddies that form when the East Australian Current (EAC) travels poleward along the coast, forming distinctive habitats in the upper ocean. Eddies provide an important enrichment mechanism in the nitrogen-limited waters of the Tasman Sea, yet there is limited knowledge of PP within cold- and warm-core eddies in the region and how physico-chemical and biological factors affect phytoplankton communities in this variable environment. We addressed the scarcity of observations by quantifying net PP using 13C isotopic enrichment incubations of surface waters over 10 degrees of latitude, comparing phytoplankton species composition in five different environments: a coastal shelf station, an oceanic cold and warm-core eddy, and a coastal dipole. Cold-core (cyclonic) eddies were significantly more productive than their warm-core (anticyclonic) counterparts (∼35 versus 0 mg C m−3 d−1), with centric diatoms the most prominent phytoplankton group, with a relatively high centric:pennate ratio. The diffuse attenuation coefficient, K d (PAR), and silicate were the best overall predictors of phytoplankton composition, explaining 88% of variation based on pigment analysis and size fractionation. Variance in net PP did not correlate significantly with physico-chemical parameters frequently used in PP models (temperature, K d [PAR], Chl a), yet inclusion of size-fractionated Chl a generated substantial improvement in our statistical model (from 36 to 77%). We show that cold-core eddies play a key role in regulating PP in eastern Australian waters and highlight a need for eddy-resolving models to incorporate descriptors of phytoplankton size structure to improve the accuracy of PP forecasts in eddy intensive regions. • Mesoscale eddies modulate primary productivity dynamics along the East Australian coast. • Knowledge of phytoplankton size structure improves prediction of primary productivity. • Phytoplankton community structure can be predicted from light and silicate levels. • Centric diatoms are the most prominent phytoplankton group in East Australian cyclonic eddies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems are widespread throughout most of Alaska's marine waters, and are associated with many different species of fishes and invertebrates. These ecosystems are vulnerable to the effects of commercial fishing activities and climate change. We compared four commonly used species distribution models (general linear models, generalized additive models, boosted regression trees and random forest models) and an ensemble model to predict the presence or absence and abundance of six groups of benthic invertebrate taxa in the Gulf of Alaska. All four model types performed adequately on training data for predicting presence and absence, with regression forest models having the best overall performance measured by the area under the receiver-operating-curve (AUC). The models also performed well on the test data for presence and absence with average AUCs ranging from 0.66 to 0.82. For the test data, ensemble models performed the best. For abundance data, there was an obvious demarcation in performance between the two regression-based methods (general linear models and generalized additive models), and the tree-based models. The boosted regression tree and random forest models out-performed the other models by a wide margin on both the training and testing data. However, there was a significant drop-off in performance for all models of invertebrate abundance (~50%) when moving from the training data to the testing data. Ensemble model performance was between the tree-based and regression-based methods. The maps of predictions from the models for both presence and abundance agreed very well across model types, with an increase in variability in predictions for the abundance data. We conclude that where data conforms well to the modeled distribution (such as the presence-absence data and binomial distribution in this study), the four types of models will provide similar results, although the regression-type models may be more consistent with biological theory. For data with highly zero-inflated distributions and non-normal distributions such as the abundance data from this study, the tree-based methods performed better. Ensemble models that averaged predictions across the four model types, performed better than the GLM or GAM models but slightly poorer than the tree-based methods, suggesting ensemble models might be more robust to overfitting than tree methods, while mitigating some of the disadvantages in predictive performance of regression methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The East Asian Monsoon and mesoscale eddies are known to regulate primary production in South China Sea (SCS), the largest tropical marginal sea; however, their contributions to the deep biogenic flux are yet to be quantified. Based on 7-year time series sediment trap observations at the depth of 1200 m in the central SCS, we used the monthly average sinking biogenic fluxes to evaluate the impact of the monsoon and mesoscale cyclonic eddies on biogenic fluxes in combination with remote sensing physical parameters. The monthly average particulate organic carbon (POC) and opal fluxes, ranging from 3.0 to 5.2 and 14.8–34.9 mg m −2 d −1 , respectively, were higher during the northeastern monsoon period. This corresponded to the deeper mixed layer depth and higher net primary production in this area, due to nutrient replenishment from the subsurface induced by monsoon transition and surface cooling. In contrast, lower POC and opal fluxes occurred during well-stratified inter-monsoon periods. In addition, CaCO 3 flux (23.6–37.0 mg m −2 d −1 ) exhibited less seasonality and was assumed to originate from foraminifera. In terms of the long-term record, the combined effect of cyclonic eddies and mixing in the upper ocean could effectively regulate the temporal variation in the biogenic flux. In particular, the opal and POC fluxes in cyclonic eddies were 116% and 41% higher on average, respectively, than those during the non-cyclonic eddy period. Since the cyclonic eddies mainly occurred during the northeastern monsoon period, their contributions to biogenic flux via diatom blooms might overlap the regular winter flux peak, which could make the biological carbon pump more efficient at CO 2 sequestration during this period thus amplifying the impact of seasonal transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold intermediate layers (CILs) constitute a key indicator of the subsurface thermal signature in many marginal and subarctic seas. Towards better understanding the impacts of natural and anthropogenic climate variability in the Black Sea, the present study elucidates processes leading to the observed changes of CIL characteristics at mesoscale and monthly-to-interannual scales by analyzing weekly temperature-salinity profiles provided by Argo floats for 2002–2015. The continuous time series data allowed to elucidate different types of CIL formation episodes. For the first time, it was possible to trace their subsequent evolution depending on the number and intensity of successive, but often intermittent, autumn-winter cooling events in addition to the ambient flow and stratification characteristics within the cyclonic interior and anticyclonic coastal eddies/gyres. The spatial distribution of CIL formation in the cold years 2003, 2006 and 2012 covered much of the Black Sea, even coastal anticyclonic eddies as a new feature which has not been documented before. The data also recorded modification of CIL during the rest of the year in terms of its thickness, position, temperature and salinity ranges in response to advective transport by the circulation system, interior turbulent mixing, and quasi-lateral intrusions associated with mesoscale features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand long-term mean and seasonal variations of the Oyashio transport off the southeastern coast of Hokkaido, time series of estimated transports were generated by combining satellite altimetry and CTD data from the period 1993–2014 along a monitoring transect referred to as the “A-line”. Linear regressions between CTD-derived geostrophic transport and altimetry-derived sea level anomaly differences were calculated by minimizing a cost function newly proposed in this study. The horizontal structure of 21-year mean transport was characterized by a southwestward flow on the continental slope (SW-1) associated with the First Oyashio Intrusion, a northeastward flow (NE-2) likely trapped against the Kuril-Kamchatka trench, a southwestward flow (SW-3) related to the Second Oyashio Intrusion, and a very stable northeastward flow (NE-4) corresponding to a combination of the Oyashio Return Flow and quasi-stationary Jet. Analysis of long-term mean monthly transports revealed four alternating flows that were present throughout all seasons of the year. The boundaries between adjacent pairs of the four flows on the A-line did not change on a seasonal timescale as much as the southernmost latitude of the First Oyashio Intrusion. At a 0-month (1-month) time lag, the sum of the SW-1, NE-2, and SW-3 (SW-1 and NE-2) transports, which corresponds to net Oyashio transport (partial net Oyashio transport related to the southernmost latitude of the First Oyashio Intrusion), was correlated with Sverdrup transport more robustly than was each of the four alternating flows. This result suggests that as the Oyashio crossed the A-line, it responded barotropically to basin-scale wind stress by adjusting transports composed of both southwestward and northeastward flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most active deep convection area in the western Mediterranean Sea is located in the Gulf of Lions. Recent studies in this area provides some insights on the complexity of the physical dynamics of convective regions, but very little is known about their impacts on the biogeochemical properties. The CASCADE (CAscading, Surge, Convection, Advection and Downwelling Events) cruise, planed in winter 2011, give us the opportunity to compare vertical profiles of properties sampled either during stratified conditions or after/during a convection event. In the present study, we focus on the distributions of the carbonate system properties (mainly total alkalinity, A T ; and total dissolved inorganic carbon, C T ) because, in the context of the climate change, deep convection areas are suspected to significantly increase the sequestration of anthropogenic CO 2 (C ANT ). Given its limited size, the impact of the Mediterranean Sea on the global carbon budget is probably minor but this marginal sea can be used as a laboratory to better understand carbon sequestration and its transfer to the basin interior by deep convection processes. Distributions of A T and C T , both measured from bottle samples, and that of C ANT (estimated with the TrOCA approach) are first analyzed in the light of other key properties (salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen). An objective interpolation procedure is then applied to estimate C T and A T from CTD measured properties. With this procedure, the vertical resolution goes from a maximum of 32 samples per station to one property estimate every meter (more detailed distributions are obtained). Results provide arguments to conclude that C ANT is rapidly transferred to the deepest layer due to deep convection events. During deep convection events, the increase of C ANT in the water column is positively correlated to that of potential density and oxygen content. The challenge of quantifying the amount of sequestered carbon is however not resolved due to the complexity and the highly dynamical nature of the convective regions. Deep convection in the Gulf of Lions, in parallel with cascading along the continental slope, could thus potentially explain the very high levels of both C ANT and acidification estimated in the deep layers of the western Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature and salinity time-series from three fixed observatories in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMed) are investigated using multi-annual (2006–2014), high-frequency (up to 3 h sampling rate) data. Two observatories are deployed in the two dense water formation (DWF) areas of the EMed (Southern Adriatic Sea, E2-M3A; Cretan Sea, E1-M3A) and the third one (Southeast Ionian Sea, PYLOS) lays directly on the intermediate water masses pathway that connects the DWF sources. The long-term variations of the hydrological characteristics at the observatories reflect the oscillating large-scale circulation modes of the basin (i.e. BiOS-Bimodal Oscillating System and internal thermohaline pump theories). In particular, between 2006 and 2014 an anti-correlated behaviour of the intermediate layer (200–600 m) salinity between the Adriatic and Cretan Sea observatories is verified. This behaviour is directly linked to reversals of the North Ionian Gyre, which appeared cyclonic during 2006–2011 and turned anticyclonic after 2011. Statistical analysis suggests that the travel time of the intermediate salinity maximum signal between the Cretan and Adriatic Sea is roughly 1.5 years, in good agreement with the analysis of additionally presented ARGO data as well as previous literature references. We argue that the understanding of such oscillations provides important foresight on future DWF events, as increased salinity may act as a crucial preconditioning factor for DWF processes. Additionally, energy spectrum analysis of the time-series revealed interesting short-term variability connected to mesoscale activity at the observatories. Hence, the sustain of permanent observatories able to monitor oceanic parameters at high sampling rates may play a key role in understanding both climatic and oceanic processes and trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sargasso Sea is a dynamic physical environment in which strong seasonal variability combines with forcing by mesoscale (~100 km) eddies. These drivers determine nutrient, light, and temperature regimes and, ultimately, the composition and productivity of the phytoplankton community. On four cruises (2011 and 2012; one eddy per cruise), we investigated links between water column structure and phytoplankton community composition in the Sargasso at a range of time and space scales. On all cruises, cyanobacteria ( Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus ) dominated the phytoplankton numerically, while haptophytes were the dominant eukaryotes (up to 60% of total chl- a ). There were substantial effects of mesoscale and sub-mesoscale forcing on phytoplankton community composition in both spring and summer. Downwelling (in anticyclones) resulted in Prochlorococcus abundances that were 22−66% higher than at ‘outside’ stations. Upwelling (in cyclones) was associated with significantly higher abundances and POC biomass of nanoeukaryotes. In general, however, each eddy had its own unique characteristics. The center of anticyclone AC1 (spring 2011) had the lowest phytoplankton biomass (chl- a ) of any eddy we studied and had lower nitrate+nitrite (N+N <5 mmol m −2 ) and eukaryote chl- a biomass as compared to its edge and to the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series station (BATS). At the center of cyclone C1 (summer 2011), we observed uplift of the 26.5 kg m −3 isopycnal and high nutrient inventories (N+N=74±46 mmol m −2 ). We also observed significantly higher haptophyte chl- a (non-coccolithophores) and lower cyanobacterial chl- a at the center and edge of C1 as compared to outside the eddy at BATS. Cyclone C2 (spring 2012) exhibited a deep mixed layer, yet had relatively low nutrient concentrations. We observed a shift in the taxonomic composition of haptophytes between a coccolithophore-dominated community in C2 (98% of total haptophyte chl- a ) and a non-coccolithophore community at BATS. In summer 2012, downwelling associated with anticyclone AC2 occurred at the edge of the eddy (not at the center), where AC2 interacted with a nearby cyclone. At the edge, we found significantly lower Synechococcus abundances and higher eukaryote chl- a compared to the center of AC2 and BATS. These along-transect nuances demonstrate the significance of small-scale perturbations that substantially alter phytoplankton community structure. Therefore, while seasonality in the North Atlantic is the primary driver of broad-scale trends in phytoplankton community composition, the effects of transient events must be considered when studying planktonic food webs and biogeochemical cycling in the Sargasso Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on satellite altimeter data and global atlases of temperature, salinity, wind stress and wind-driven circulation we investigate the seasonal variation of the South Indian tropical gyre and its associated open-ocean upwelling system, known as the Seychelles–Chagos Thermocline Ridge (SCTR). Results show a year-round, altimeter-derived cyclonic gyre where the upwelling regime appears closely related to seasonality of the ocean gyre, a relationship that has not been previously explored in this region. An analysis of major forcing mechanisms suggests that the thermocline ridge results from the constructive interaction of basin-scale wind stress curl, local-scale wind stress forcing and remote forcing driven by Rossby waves of different periodicity: semiannual in the west, under the strong influence of monsoonal winds; and, annual in the east, where the southeasterlies prevail. One exception occurs during winter, when the well-known westward intensification of the upwelling core, the Seychelles Dome, is shown to be largely a response of the wind-driven circulation. At basin-scale, the most outstanding feature is the seasonal shrinkage of the ocean gyre and the SCTR. From late autumn to spring, the eastward South Equatorial Countercurrent (SECC) recirculates early in the east on feeding the westward South Equatorial Current, therefore closing the gyre before arrival to Sumatra. We find this recirculation longitude migrates over 20° and collocates with the westward advance of a zonal thermohaline front emerging from the encounter between (upwelled) Indian Equatorial Water and relatively warmer and fresher Indonesian Throughflow Water. We suggest this front, which we call the Indonesian Throughflow Front, plays an important role as remote forcing to the tropical gyre, generating southward geostrophic flows that contribute to the early recirculation of the SECC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Weddell Sea plays an important role for the global oceans and climate by being one of the biggest production and export areas of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) enters the Weddell Gyre (WG) at its eastern boundary. Then called Warm Deep Water (WDW), it is a major contributor to the formation of deep and bottom waters due to ocean-ice shelf interactions in the southern and soutwestern Weddell Sea. Hydrographic data collected between 0 and 30°E on the RV Polarstern cruise ANT XX/2 reveals a two-core structure for the eastern inflow of warm water at roughly 20°E but not further downstream at the Greenwich meridian (GM). Model results and climatological fields suggest that the two cores represent two separate modes of warm inflow. One mode is driven by eddy mixing in the northeastern corner of the WG and the other one is an advective mode, forming the southern branch of the inflow which extends beyond 30°E before turning westward. Both pathways are likely to carry waters from different origins within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current ACC, where more ventilated CDW is found at the Southern Boundary SB compared to the centre. The southern route shows considerable interannual variability in the model. A variable inflow of two types of CDW together with admixed recirculated and cooler waters from the Weddell Sea can potentially contribute to the observed variability and warming trend of WDW over the last decade at the GM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) is an essential climate variable that requires long term in situ observation. The French SSS Observation Service (SSS-OS) manages a network of Voluntary Observing Ships equipped with thermosalinographs (TSG). The network is global though more concentrated in the tropical Pacific and North Atlantic oceanic basins. The acquisition system is autonomous with real time transmission and is regularly serviced at harbor calls. There are distinct real time and delayed time processing chains. Real time processing includes automatic alerts to detect potential instrument problems, in case raw data are outside of climatic limits, and graphical monitoring tools. Delayed time processing relies on a dedicated software for attribution of data quality flags by visual inspection, and correction of TSG time series by comparison with daily water samples and collocated Argo data. A method for optimizing the automatic attribution of quality flags in real time, based on testing different thresholds for data deviation from climatology and retroactively comparing the resulting flags to delayed time flags, is presented. The SSS-OS real time data feed the Coriolis operational oceanography database, while the research-quality delayed time data can be extracted for selected time and geographical ranges through a graphical web interface. Delayed time data have been also combined with other SSS data sources to produce gridded files for the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. A short review of the research activities conducted with such data is given. It includes observation-based process-oriented and climate studies from regional to global scale as well as studies where in situ SSS is used for calibration/validation of models, coral proxies or satellite data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic and oceanographic changes, as occurring at a glacial–interglacial scale, may alter the environmental conditions needed for the development of prolific cold-water coral reefs and mounds. Studies constraining the temporal distribution of cold-water corals in the NE Atlantic suggested the cyclic changes of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation as the main driver for the development and dispersal of cold-water coral ecosystems. However, conclusions were hindered by lack of data from the NW Atlantic. Aiming to overcome this lack of data, the temporal occurrence of cold-water corals in the Cape Lookout area along the southeastern US margin was explored by U-series dating. Furthermore, the local influence of the regional water masses, namely the Gulf Stream, on cold-water coral proliferation and occurrence since the Last Glacial Maximum was examined. Results suggest that the occurrence of cold-water corals in the Cape Lookout area is restricted to interglacial periods, with corals being present during the last ~7 kyr and also during the Eemian (~125 ka). The reconstructed local environmental conditions suggest an offshore displacement of the Gulf Stream and increased influence from the Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf waters during the last glacial period. During the deglacial sea level rise, the Gulf Stream moved coastward providing present-day-like conditions to the surface waters. Nevertheless, present-day conditions at the ocean sea floor were not established before 7.5 cal ka BP once the ultimate demise of the Laurentide ice-sheet caused the final sea level rise and the displacement of the Gulf Stream to its present location. Occasional presence of the Gulf Stream over the site during the Mid- to Late Holocene coincides with enhanced bottom current strength and a slightly higher bottom water temperature, which are environmental conditions that are favorable for cold-water coral growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change-induced ocean deoxygenation is expected to exacerbate hypoxic conditions in mesopelagic waters off the coast of southern California, with potentially deleterious effects for the resident fauna. In order to understand the possible impacts that the oxygen minimum zone expansion will have on these animals, we investigated the response of the depth of the deep scattering layer (i.e., upper and lower boundaries) to natural variations in midwater oxygen concentrations, light levels, and temperature over time and space in the southern California Current Ecosystem. We found that the depth of the lower boundary of the deep scattering layer (DSL) is most strongly correlated with dissolved oxygen concentration, and irradiance and oxygen concentration are the key variables determining the upper boundary. Based on our correlations and published estimates of annual rates of change to irradiance level and hypoxic boundary, we estimated the corresponding annual rate of change of DSL depths. If past trends continue, the upper boundary is expected to shoal at a faster rate than the lower boundary, effectively widening the DSL under climate change scenarios. These results have important implications for the future of pelagic ecosystems, as a change to the distribution of mesopelagic animals could affect pelagic food webs as well as biogeochemical cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon cycle of the Arctic Ocean is tightly regulated by land–atmosphere–cryosphere–ocean interactions. Characterizing these environmental exchanges and feedbacks is critical to facilitate projections of the carbon cycle under changing climate conditions. The environmental drivers of sinking particles including organic carbon (OC) to the deep-sea floor are investigated with four moorings including sediment traps and currentmeters at the Arctic gateway in the eastern Fram Strait, which is the area where warm anomalies are transported northwards to the Arctic. Particles fluxes were collected over one year (July 2010–July 2011) and have been analysed to obtain the content of the lithogenic fraction, calcium carbonate, OC and its stable isotopes, opal, and the grain size. Records of near bottom current speed and temperature along with satellite observations of sea ice extent and chlorophyll-a concentration have been used for evaluation of the environmental conditions. We found increased lithogenic fluxes (up to 9872 mg m −2 d −1 ) and coarsening grain size of settling particles in late winter–early spring. At the same time, intensifications of the northward flowing west Spitsbergen current (WSC) were recorded. The WSC was able to resuspend and transport northwards sediments that were deposited at the outlet of Storfjordrenna and on the upper slope west of Spitsbergen. The signal of recurrent winnowing of fine particles was also detected in the top layer of surface sediments. In addition, an increased arrival of sea ice transported ice rafted detritus (>414 detrital carbonate mineral grains larger than 1 mm per m 2 ) from the southern Spitsbergen coast along with terrestrial organic matter was observed beyond 1000 m of water depth during winter months. Finally, the downward particle fluxes showed typical temporal variability of high latitudes, with high percentages of the biogenic compounds (opal, organic carbon and calcium carbonate) linked to the phytoplankton bloom in spring–summer. However, on an annual basis local planktonic production was a secondary source for the downward OC, since most of the OC was advected laterally by the WSC. Overall, these observations demonstrated the sensitivity of the downward flux of particles to environmental conditions such as hydrodynamics, sea ice rafting, and pelagic primary production. Future alteration of the patterns of natural drivers due to climate change is thus expected to cause major shifts in the downward flux of particles, including carbon, to the deep sea ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the inaccuracy of long-term El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecasts, a new dynamical–statistical forecasting model of the ENSO index was developed based on dynamical model reconstruction and improved self-memorization. To overcome the problem of single initial prediction values, the largest Lyapunov exponent was introduced to improve the traditional self-memorization function, thereby making it more effective for describing chaotic systems, such as ENSO. Equation reconstruction, based on actual data, was used as a dynamical core to overcome the problem of using a simple core. The developed dynamical–statistical forecasting model of the ENSO index is used to predict the sea surface temperature anomaly in the equatorial eastern Pacific and El Niño/La Niña events. The real-time predictive skills of the improved model were tested. The results show that our model predicted well within lead times of 12 months. Compared with six mature models, both temporal correlation and root mean square error of the improved model are slightly worse than those of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model, but better than those of the other five models. Additionally, the margin between the forecast results in summer and those in winter is not great, which means that the improved model can overcome the “spring predictability barrier”, to some extent. Finally, a real-time prediction experiment is carried out beginning in September 2014. Our model is a new exploration of the ENSO forecasting method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton community structure at the Cariaco Basin Time-Series site (10°30′N, 64°40′W) within the Cariaco Basin was examined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and microscopy between January 1996 to October 2000, and July 2006 to December 2010. Microscopy results from the upper 55 m indicated that the abundance of microphytoplankton (>20 µm) decreased by more than 5-fold from 1996 through 2010, accompanied by a change in diatom composition and a 4-fold reduction in large diatom cell numbers, particularly during upwelling periods. HPLC results also indicate a decline in diatoms, but not nearly to the same extent. Rather, HPLC data suggests a substantial reorganization of the phytoplankton community. Between the two time periods, there was a significant deepening of high biomass concentrations from near surface waters to depths below 55 m. At the same time, phytoplankton diversity increased by 14%, while seasonal variability in community composition declined. Vertical photopigment distributions of nanophytoplankton (<20 µm) further showed significant overall increases in coccolithophore, cryptophyte, and other phytoflagellate concentrations. The deepening in phytoplankton biomass below the mixed layer, the relative increase in smaller taxa, and the increasing homogeneity in phytoplankton distributions over time are likely a direct response to a reduction in upwelling intensity and a deepening of the euphotic zone associated with a decrease in the average trade winds of the region from 2006–2010, compared to 1996–2000. Surprisingly, the overall decline in large cells dominated by diatoms and an increase in smaller taxa has led to no significant change in the export of particulate organic carbon (POC) to depth, contrary to many studies that predict increasing stratification with future climate change scenarios will reduce POC export and carbon sequestration in the deep ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent cooling in the eastern Bering Sea resulted in a series of cold years (2008–2010) marked by extensive ice coverage and late ice retreat. In the present study, we examined the spatial and temporal variability of three predominant euphausiid species Thysanoessa raschii , Thysanoessa inermis , and Thysanoessa longipes in the summers of 2008–2010. Simple box-and-whisker plots as well as generalized additive models (GLMs) were applied to examine habitat selection for three euphausiid species. The coefficients of dispersion were calculated for three species to examine potential changes in spatial patterns. Results showed that T. raschii was broadly distributed in the inner and middle domains. The abundance of T. raschii was related to water temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a concentration. T. inermis was primarily distributed in the middle domain and was related to water temperature and salinity. T. longipes was mostly distributed in the outer domain and was only related to salinity. The proportion of T. raschii , a coastal species in the inner and middle domains, showed large interannual variation with the highest in 2008 and the lowest in 2009 (a >50% decline). This same species did not show large interannual variation in the spatial distribution. T. longipes , a shelf species in the outer domain, did not show large interannual variation in abundance, but the center of mass distribution consistently shifted northward and offshore from 2008 to 2010. T. inermis , a coastal species in the middle and coastal domains, did not show large interannual variation in abundance and spatial distribution. In summary, euphausiid populations showed large spatial and temporal variability among cold years. Different species could be affected by different processes in the southeastern Bering Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eirik Drift lies on the slope south of Greenland, where it has been formed under the influence of the Western Boundary Undercurrent (WBUC) closely downstream of its origin in the deep-water formation centres of the Nordic Seas. Therefore, the sediment record at Eirik Drift documents modifications in pathways and intensity of the WBUC. These modifications reflect alterations in deep-water formation in the Nordic Seas and are therefore coupled with climate changes. Based on the seismostratigraphic analysis of sedimentary architecture identified in a set of high-resolution seismic reflection data, we have reconstructed the palaeocirculation of the WBUC at Eirik Drift since the early Miocene. We revealed a strong WBUC during warm climate conditions, and in phases of climate cooling with enhanced sea-ice extent we interpreted weak WBUC influence. We suggest a southward shift of the deep-water formation regions along with a shift of the deep current system during the cool phases. This shift implies that the main North Atlantic Deep Water route affected Eirik Drift only during warm phases and that during cool phases weak branches of the circulation system flowed over Eirik Drift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify seasonal patterns of change in zooplankton communities, an optical plankton counter (OPC) and microscopic analysis were utilised to characterise zooplankton samples collected from 0 to 150m and 0 to 500m in the Oyashio region every one to three months from 2002 to 2007. Based on the OPC measurements, the abundance and biomass of zooplankton peaked in June (0-150m) or August (150-500m), depending on the depth stratum. The peak periods of the copepod species that were dominant in terms of abundance and biomass indicated species-specific patterns. Three Neocalanus species (Neocalanus cristatus, Neocalanus flemingeri and Neocalanus plumchrus) exhibited abundance peaks that occurred before their biomass peaks, whereas Eucalanus bungii and Metridia pacifica experienced biomass peaks before their abundance peaks. The abundance peaks corresponded to the recruitment periods of early copepodid stages, whereas the biomass peaks corresponded to the periods when the dominant populations reached the late copepodid stages (C5 or C6). Because the reproduction of Neocalanus spp. occurred in the deep layer (>500m), their biomass peaks were observed when the major populations reached stage C5 after the abundance peaks of the early copepodid stages. The reproduction of E. bungii and M. pacifica occurred near the surface layer. These species first formed biomass peaks of C6 and later developed abundance peaks of newly recruited early copepodid stages. From the comparison between OPC measurements and microscopic analyses, seasonal changes in zooplankton biomass at depths of 0-150m were governed primarily by E. bungii and M. pacifica, whereas those at depths of 150-500m were primarily caused by the three Neocalanus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: General paradigms of species extinction risk are urgently needed as global habitat loss and rapid climate change threaten Earth with what could be its sixth mass extinction. Using the stony coral Lophelia pertusa as a model organism with the potential for wide larval dispersal, we investigated how the global ocean conveyor drove an unprecedented post-glacial range expansion in Earth׳s largest biome, the deep sea. We compiled a unique ocean-scale dataset of published radiocarbon and uranium-series dates of fossil corals, the sedimentary protactinium–thorium record of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) strength, authigenic neodymium and lead isotopic ratios of circulation pathways, and coral biogeography, and integrated new Bayesian estimates of historic gene flow. Our compilation shows how the export of Southern Ocean and Mediterranean waters after the Younger Dryas 11.6kyr ago simultaneously triggered two dispersal events in the western and eastern Atlantic respectively. Each pathway injected larvae from refugia into ocean currents powered by a re-invigorated AMOC that led to the fastest postglacial range expansion ever recorded, covering 7500km in under 400 years. In addition to its role in modulating global climate, our study illuminates how the ocean conveyor creates broad geographic ranges that lower extinction risk in the deep sea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) exhibits a decadal variability during recent years, i.e., salinification before 1997 and freshening thereafter, with the maximum anomalies locating at the region of Brazil and Malvinas currents confluence. Our study proposed that the local mesoscale eddies may play an important role in triggering this decadal oscillation. The eddy activity intensification (weakening) leads to the increase (decrease) of poleward cross-frontal eddy salinity flux and upward eddy buoyancy flux, which results in the weakening (strengthening) of the subsurface stratification and potential vorticity (PV). The PV anomalies facilitate (block) the poleward transport of warm saline subtropical water, while the stratification weakening favors the further downward transmission of salinity anomalies by processes of eddy flux as well as mean-flow advection (the stratification strengthening inhibits the vertical transport), then initiates the decadal change of the AAIW property. The whole process of the eddy-related propagation of salinity anomalies takes about 4 to 6 years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Seasonal coastal upwelling was analyzed along the NW African coastline (11–35°N) from 1981 to 2012. Upwelling magnitudes are calculated by wind speed indices, sea-surface temperature indices and inferred from meteorological station, sea-surface height and vertical water column transport data. A permanent annual upwelling regime is documented across 21–35°N and a seasonal regime across 12–19°N, in accordance with the climatology of previous studies. Upwelling regions were split into three zones: (1) the Mauritania–Senegalese upwelling zone (12–19°N), (2) the strong permanent annual upwelling zone (21–26°N) and (3) the weak permanent upwelling zone (26–35°N). We find compelling evidence in our various indices for the Bakun upwelling intensification hypothesis due to a significant coastal summer wind speed increase, resulting in an increase in upwelling-favorable wind speeds north of 20°N and an increase in downwelling-favorable winds south of 20°N. The North Atlantic Oscillation plays a leading role in modifying interannual variability during the other seasons (autumn–spring), with its influence dominating in winter. The East Atlantic pattern shows a strong correlation with upwelling during spring, while El Niño Southern Oscillation and Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation teleconnections were not found. A disagreement between observationally-based wind speed products and reanalysis-derived data is explored. A modification to the Bakun upwelling intensification hypothesis for NW Africa is presented, which accounts for the latitudinal divide in summer wind regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: On 21 March 1960, sounds from three 300-lb depth charges deployed at 5.5-min intervals off Perth, Australia were recorded by the SOFAR station at Bermuda. The recorded travel time of these signals, about 13,375s, is a historical measure of the ocean temperature averaged across several ocean basins. The 1960 travel time measurement has about 3-s precision. High-resolution global ocean state estimates for 2004 from the “Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II” (ECCO2) project were combined with ray tracing to determine the paths followed by the acoustic signals. The acoustic paths are refracted geodesics that are slightly deflected by either small-scale topographic features in the Southern Ocean or the coast of Brazil. The refractive influences of intense, small-scale oceanographic features, such as Agulhas Rings or eddies in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, greatly reduce the necessary topographic deflection and cause the acoustic paths to meander in time. The ECCO2 ocean state estimates, which are constrained by model dynamics and available data, were used to compute present-day travel times. Measured and computed arrival coda were in good agreement. Based on recent estimates of warming of the upper ocean, the travel-time change over the past half-century was nominally expected to be about −9s, but little difference between measured (1960) and computed (2004) travel times was found. Taking into account uncertainties in the 1960 measurements, the 2004 ocean state estimates, and other approximations, the ocean temperature averaged along the sound channel axis over the antipodal paths has warmed at a rate less than about 4.6m°Cyr−1 (95% confidence). At this time, the estimated uncertainties are comparable in size to the expected warming signal, however. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Understanding the role of the oceans in the Earth's changing climate requires comprehension of the relevant metabolic pathways which produce climatically important trace gases. The global ocean represents one of the largest natural sources of nitrous oxide (N2O) that is produced by selected archaea and/or bacteria during nitrogen (N) metabolism. In this study, the role of nitrite (NO2 −) in the production of N2O in the upper water column of the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre was investigated, focusing primarily on the lower euphotic zone where NO2 − concentrations at the primary NO2 − maximum reached 195nmolL−1. Free-drifting sediment trap arrays were deployed to measure N cycle processes in sinking particulate material and the addition of selected N substrates to unpreserved sediment traps provided an experimental framework to test hypotheses regarding N2O production pathways and controls. Sinking particles collected using NO2 −-amended, unpreserved sediment traps exhibited significant production of N2O at depths between 100 and 200m. Subsequent stable isotope tracer measurements conducted on sediment trap material amended with 15NO2 − yielded elevated δ15N values of N2O, supporting N2O production via a NO2 − metabolism pathway. Experiments on seawater collected from 150m showed N2O production via NO2 − metabolism also occurs in the water-column and indicated that the concentration of NO2 − relative to NH4 + availability may be an important control. These findings provide evidence for the production of N2O via nitrifer-denitrification in the lower euphotic zone of the open ocean, whereby NO2 − is reduced to N2O by ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A one-dimensional, temperature-dependent model was used to simulate the descent–ascent cycle of the embryos and early larval stages of Antarctic krill to determine which regions of the western Antarctic Peninsula (wAP) continental shelf support successful completion of this cycle under present environmental conditions and those projected to occur as a result of climate change. The transport and fate of the embryo and larva under present and modified conditions was investigated with Lagrangian particle tracking simulations. The two modeling studies were implemented using temperature and density (embryo–larva model) and circulation distributions (Lagrangian particle tracking) obtained from a high resolution version of the Regional Ocean Modeling System configured for the wAP shelf region. Additional simulations used temperature and circulation distributions obtained from simulations that were forced with increased wind speed and increased transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), both projected to possibly occur with climate change in the wAP region. Simulations using present conditions showed that successful completion of the descent–ascent cycle occurred along the outer shelf and on the shelf in regions with bottom depths of 600–700m. Estimated residence times for the shelf regions that support success of the embryo and larva were 20–30 days. Thus, krill spawned in the mid and inner shelf regions can be retained in these regions through development to the first feeding stage (calyptopis 1). Increased winds and ACC transport resulted in more onshelf transport of Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW), which increased the volume of warm (1–1.5°C) water at depth. These conditions supported a moderate increase in success of the krill embryo and larva, but only for limited areas of the shelf where hatching depths decreased by 10–30m (<5%) and development time to the calyptopis 1 stage decreased by 15–20%. The modified circulation conditions also supported increased advection of krill larvae into areas of the shelf that would experience the largest reduction of sea ice, especially in winter. Projected changes in wind strength and CDW transport may potentially enhance larval survival and advection onto the wAP shelf, but recruitment may be decreased by modifications to local sea ice distributions that would impede survival of Antarctic krill that overwinter on the shelf. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Expansion of oligotrophic ocean gyre and widespread reduction of phytoplankton biomass will have severe environmental and ecological effect since phytoplankton accounts for half of the global primary production, which forms the trophic base for marine ecosystem. Analysis of Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) derived chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) datasets (1998–2010) suggested significant expansion of South Indian Ocean oligotrophic gyre (SOG) at average annual rate of 4.46%/yr (r=0.66, p=0.013). The annual trend of SOG expansion was accompanied with the significantly declining trend of Chl-a concentration (−1.36%/yr, or −0.0007±0.0001mgm−3/yr, r=0.76, p=0.002). Environmental parameters such as sea surface temperature (SST) and meridional wind stress ( ) were found to be the most accountable factors controlling the variability of Chl-a/gyre area. Nevertheless, SST was the dominant predictor of biological response (explains more than 60% of Chl-a variability). This study suggests that the observed trend of SOG expansion and accompanied decline in Chl-a concentration is principally due to SST warming (0.05±0.01°C/yr, r=0.83, p=0.0008) and weakening of wind stress ( ) mainly meridional wind stress component, (−0012Pa/yr, r=0.86, p=0.004). Additionally, the SST trend map showed more than 80% of the SOG area is warming significantly under circumstance of overall gain of net heat flux by the sea surface. Analysis of these climate variables suggests decreased mixing and enhanced stratification in the SOG which reduces nutrient supply to sunlit zone; consequently resulting in low phytoplankton biomass, and gyre expansion. In addition, the sea-level rise observed in SOG (0.48±0.05cm/yr) is much higher than the global estimates (0.18±0.05cm/yr) reported in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, 2007. The variability in Chl-a concentration was also studied with respect to leading climate oscillators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) may be expanding in their worldwide spatial and vertical extent as a result of global climate change. Here, we highlight structural and functional features of pelagic OMZ zooplankton communities, especially the little known mesopelagic lower oxycline zooplankton assemblage in the eastern tropical north Pacific (ETNP). Day and night vertically-stratified zooplankton samples were collected with a MOCNESS plankton net system to depths of 1000m during two cruises in 2007 and 2008 as part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Project. Size-fractionated biomass and selected species distributions were analyzed. A spatial comparison between two stations, Tehuantepec Bowl (TB) and Costa Rica Dome (CRD), with different OMZ thicknesses especially in 2008, was used as a proxy for future potential climate change to show how variability in oxycline depth at the upper and lower OMZ boundaries may have broad consequences for biological distributions and ecosystem function. The same zooplankton biomass features were present at both locations but responded differently to changes in OMZ thickness and boundary depths. The impact of habitat compression was quantified by the change in proportion of zooplankton biomass in the upper water column. The thermocline was the location of peak zooplankton biomass regardless of OMZ extent. At the lower oxycline, a unique zooplankton assemblage and secondary biomass peak (sharp order of magnitude jump from OMZ core biomass levels) occurred that was strongly associated with a specific oxygen concentration of 2μM. In 2008, the lower oxycline biomass peak deepened by over 200m at TB with its expanded OMZ compared to CRD, despite a temperature difference of ∼2°C, while remaining at the same oxygen level. In contrast, another secondary biomass peak corresponding to the daytime depth of diel vertical migration, and occurring within the upper oxycline or OMZ core, was present at the same depth and temperature at both locations, despite different oxygen concentrations. A dense monospecific layer of the copepod Eucalanus inermis was sometimes present just above the distinctive more persistent lower oxycline assemblage. While the general ontogenetic migration of this species was previously known, its precise positioning relative to oxygen concentration and the lower oxycline community is a new finding. The vertical re-positioning of biomass layers at the thermocline and lower OMZ boundaries, and the increased depth range of low oxygen water that diel vertical migrators and sinking particles must transit in an expanded OMZ, could have widespread effects on species distributions, the biological pump, and benthic–pelagic coupling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The northernmost limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), so relevant for understanding decadal climate variability, enters the Nordic Seas as the Norwegian Atlantic Current and continues on to recirculate in the Arctic Ocean. The strength of the Eastern Branch of the Norwegian Atlantic Current has been systematically monitored for over 15 years at the Svinøy section off southern Norway, whereas the strength of the Western Branch has not. We therefore used autonomous gliders to monitor and quantify the strength of this broader branch at the Svinøy section, located 500km downstream from the Iceland–Scotland Ridge, and at the Station Mike section 300km further downstream. The gliders' diving depth is 1000m, spanning the warm Atlantic Water. The current encompasses more than warm Atlantic Water; we find that the transport peaks in two distinct temperature ranges, one around 7.5–8°C (Atlantic Water, carrying 7Sv (1×106 m3/s)) and another around −0.5°C (Norwegian Sea Deep Water, carrying 12Sv). Contrary to earlier expectations, our results indicate that the Western Branch carries as much water of Atlantic origin (temperature>7.5°C) as the Eastern Branch. It should therefore be included in future monitoring plans for this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global ocean stores about 1/4 of anthropogenic CO 2 , and the North Atlantic (NA) is the second largest region of the oceanic carbon sink. The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) concentrates the latest Earth system models for studying the interaction between the carbon cycle and climate change. We find that the simulation of air-sea CO 2 fluxes (FCO 2) by CMIP6 models is consistent with the observation-based results in the NA. The spatial correlation coefficients of 12-model ensemble mean results and observations are 0.87 for the long-term annual mean results and above 0.62 for the seasonally averaged results. The main simulation biases of FCO 2 are that most models overestimate the long-term annual mean carbon sink and seasonal variation of FCO 2 in the subpolar NA because there the sink in winter is overestimated. In a large region of the subpolar NA, the bias of winter FCO 2 is mainly caused by the bias of winter surface dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity. Differences in the simulated winter DIC among CMIP6 models in the subpolar North Atlantic are primarily caused by model differences in DIC's vertical structure and transport; this is mainly associated with differences in the meridional overturning at depth and surface CO 2 solubility. We find the biological processes play a minor role in the surface and interior DIC differences among CMIP6 models in the subpolar NA. Compared with the CMIP5 models, the simulated FCO 2 is closer to observation-based products in some models and this is mainly due to improved simulated wind fields. [Display omitted] • The bias of fCO 2 from CMIP6 is large in winter and mainly occurs in the subpolar NA. • The overestimated uptake of CO 2 in winter induces an unrealistic seasonal variation in the subpolar NA. • The simulation of winter pCO 2sea in the NA is mainly affected by physical processes. • Compared with CMIP5, the wind fields from CMIP6 are improved and beneficial for fCO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Characterising how deep-sea communities change on contemporary time-scales and understanding underlying ecosystem processes has become important under changing climate and the rise in the exploitation of deep-sea resources. However, little is known about these dynamics and processes. Long-term observations from which inter-annual variations can be detected are scarce in the deep sea. This study examines inter-annual changes in density, family richness and evenness, family and functional group rank abundance distributions of infaunal polychaetes at two abyssal stations in the North East Pacific (Station M, 1991 to 2005) and in the North East Atlantic (Porcupine Abyssal Plain, 1991 to 1999). The two long-term data sets were used to investigate not only if polychaete community structure and composition varied at inter-annual scales in terms of diversity and rank abundance distributions but also if any changes were related to previous observations in megafauna and environmental factors at each locality. The polychaete community structure at each locality was analysed using univariate statistics as well as multivariate ordination techniques based on Bray-Curtis similarity of the yearly family density. Sub-surface deposit feeders, such as Paraonidae, dominated the North East Pacific, whereas surface deposit feeders, such as Cirratulidae, dominated the North East Atlantic. Both stations showed inter-annual variations in density, family evenness and rank abundance distributions. The greatest changes occurred in 1998 in both time series when polychaete densities peaked, and switches in the rank abundance of the most abundant families and functional groups took place. Inter-annual variations in the polychaete community were correlated with a limited number of holothurian species changes, but no correlation was found with particulate organic matter flux or climate indices. Ecological and environmental factors behind the family-level changes remain elusive. Overall, changes in the dominance of functional groups imply changes in abyssal ecosystem functioning with potential consequences on carbon cycling at the seabed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Detection and attribution of hydrographic and biogeochemical changes in the deep ocean are challenging due to the small magnitude of their signals and to limitations in the accuracy of available data. However, there are indications that anthropogenic and climate change signals are starting to manifest at depth. The deep ocean below 2000m comprises about 50% of the total ocean volume, and changes in the deep ocean should be followed over time to accurately assess the partitioning of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) between the ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and atmosphere. Here we determine the changes in the interior deep-water inorganic carbon content by a novel means that uses the partial pressure of CO2 measured at 20°C, pCO2(20), along three meridional transects in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. These changes are measured on decadal time scales using observations from the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE)/World Hydrographic Program (WHP) of the 1980s and 1990s and the CLIVAR/CO2 Repeat Hydrography Program of the past decade. The pCO2(20) values show a consistent increase in deep water over the time period. Changes in total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) content in the deep interior are not significant or consistent, as most of the signal is below the level of analytical uncertainty. Using an approximate relationship between pCO2(20) and DIC change, we infer DIC changes that are at the margin of detectability. However, when integrated on the basin scale, the increases range from 8–40% of the total specific water column changes over the past several decades. Patterns in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), along with output from an ocean model, suggest that the changes in pCO2(20) and DIC are of anthropogenic origin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Small pelagic fishes off southern California exhibit interannual variations in the regions they occupy. An enhanced understanding of these fluctuations could improve fisheries management and predictions of fish''s responses to climate change. We investigated dynamic height as a variable for identifying the spawning habitat of northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax), and jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus). During cruises between 1998 and 2004, dynamic height was calculated from temperature and salinity profiles, while fish egg concentration was measured with obliquely towed bongo nets and the Continuous, Underway Fish Egg Sampler. Dynamic height ranged between 68 and 108cm, with values increasing offshore. The greatest probability of encountering anchovy, sardine, and jack mackerel eggs occurred at dynamic heights of 79–83cm, 84–89cm, and 89–99cm, respectively. Four mechanisms were proposed to explain how dynamic height affects egg distribution: (1) dynamic height is a proxy for upper water column temperature and salinity, which are known to influence spawning habitat. (2) Low dynamic heights are indicative of coastal upwelling, which increases primary and secondary productivity. (3) Egg concentration is greater at dynamic heights coincident with geostrophic currents that transport larvae to favorable habitats. (4) Eddies delineated by dynamic height contours retain eggs in productive habitats. To evaluate these mechanisms, a generalized linear model was constructed using dynamic height, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, zooplankton volume, geostrophic currents, and eddies as independent variables. Dynamic height explained more variance than any other variable in models of sardine and anchovy spawning habitat. Together temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll accounted for 80–95% of the dynamic height effect, emphasizing the importance of the first two mechanisms. However, dynamic height remained statistically significant in the models of anchovy and jack mackerel spawning habitat after considering the effects of all other variables. Dynamic height shows promise as an ecological indicator of spawning habitat, because it integrates the effects of multiple oceanic variables, can be remotely sensed, and is predicted by ocean circulation models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Density and average size of two species of abyssal sponges were analyzed at Station M (∼4100m depth) over an 18-year time-series (1989–2006) using camera sled transects. Both sponge taxa share a similar plate-like morphology despite being within different families, and both showed similar variations in density and average body size over time, suggesting that the same factors may control the demographics of both species. Peaks in significant cross correlations between increases in particulate organic carbon flux and corresponding increases in sponge density occurred with a time lag of 13 months. Sponge density also fluctuated with changes in two climate indices: the NOI with a time lag of 18 months and NPGO with a time lag of 15 months. The results support previous suggestions that increased particulate organic carbon flux may induce recruitment or regeneration in deep-sea sponges. It is unknown whether the appearance of young individuals results from recruitment, regeneration, or both, but the population responses to seasonal and inter-annual changes in food supply demonstrate that sponge populations are dynamic and are capable of responding to inter-annual changes despite being sessile and presumably slow-growing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A composite database encompassing 6 benthic surveys from years 1983 to 2003 was constructed to evaluate the distribution of macrofaunal biomass in the deep Gulf of Mexico (GoM) prior to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Predictive models based on optimal scaling of ocean color data and high resolution bathymetry were employed to map the benthic biomass in the vicinity of spill site because no previous sampling had been conducted at that exact location. The predicted biomass declines with water and mixed layer depth and is an increasing function of surface primary production and temporal variation of sea surface temperature. The decline of animal size with depth, however, was a function of a shift of dominant abundance from large to small taxa. At a local scale, high benthic biomass in the N GoM was associated with the enhanced productivity by the nutrient-laden Mississippi River outflows, offshore transport of the river plumes, and upwelling along the northern edge of the Loop Current. The apparent biomass enhancement at the Mississippi and De Soto Canyon and deep sediment fan was presumably related to lateral down-slope advection of organic carbon from the surrounding continental margin. Except for the Campeche Bank, the meager biomass of the Mexican margin may reflect the characteristic low-productivity Caribbean water that enters the GoM through Yucatan Strait. Benthic biomass in the N GoM was not statistically different between comprehensive surveys in the years 1983–1985 and 2000–2002. The stock assessment and biomass predictions from 669 cores at 170 locations throughout the deep GoM provide an important baseline of the sediment-dwelling fauna that may be subjected to immediate or long-term impacts from the oil spill or from climate change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]