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Microzooplankton community dynamics under ocean acidification: key observations and insights
Sai Elangovan S1, B S K Kumar2, Dokala Bhaskara Rao1
1Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Kochi, 682508, Kerala, India.
Ocean acidification impacts microzooplankton (MZP) community dynamics, shifting species composition and abundance. Food availability, not just pH, significantly influences these changes.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Oceanography
- Microbiology
Background:
- Ocean acidification poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems.
- Microzooplankton (MZP) play a crucial role in marine food webs.
- Understanding MZP community dynamics under changing ocean conditions is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ocean acidification on microzooplankton community structure and dynamics.
- To determine the influence of environmental variables, particularly pH, on MZP assemblages.
- To explore the trophic interactions between MZP, phytoplankton, and bacteria under acidified conditions.
Main Methods:
- pH-manipulated microcosm experiments were conducted in coastal Bay of Bengal waters.
- Phytoplankton and microzooplankton abundance and community composition were monitored.
- Statistical analyses including Spearman's rank correlation and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) were employed.
Main Results:
- Significant shifts in phytoplankton from centric to pennate diatoms were observed under acidification.
- Microzooplankton communities shifted from diverse groups to dominance by aloricate ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates.
- Prey abundance (phytoplankton, picocyanobacteria, heterotrophic bacteria) significantly influenced MZP assemblages more than pH, temperature, or salinity.
Conclusions:
- Microzooplankton community dynamics are significantly altered by ocean acidification.
- Food availability and species-specific responses to environmental conditions are key drivers of MZP shifts.
- Ocean acidification indirectly impacts MZP through changes in prey availability and directly through environmental tolerance.
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