How marine heatwaves are reshaping phytoplankton in the Northeast Pacific

Abstract In 2015 and 2019, the Northeast Pacific has undergone significant heatwave events that strongly disrupted marine ecosystems functioning and services. Here we use the data collected by the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey to investigate the changes in summer phytoplankton abundance and morphology and show an increase in prolate (i.e., elongated) taxa during heatwave events, in response to warmer temperatures and declining nitrate. We also investigate the impacts of the morphological shifts on the carbon cycle and show that warmer periods were dominated by prolate cells with high carbon content, whereas cooler periods were dominated by oblate (i.e., flattened) cells with low carbon content. By altering community composition and the overall cells sinking velocity, these morphological shifts likely impacted the carbon cycle, as they were correlated with changes in surface chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon concentrations.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Limnology and Oceanography
Published
2025-07-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.70137
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Marine and coastal ecosystems
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.59

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

How marine heatwaves are reshaping phytoplankton in the Northeast Pacific

Sonia Batten, Suzanne Strom, Claudine Hauri, Loïck Kléparski et al.
2 citations
Limnology and Oceanography
Marine and coastal ecosystems
3.59
article

How marine heatwaves are reshaping phytoplankton in the Northeast Pacific

Sonia Batten, Suzanne Strom, Claudine Hauri, Loïck Kléparski, Rémi Pagès, Nicolas Djeghri, Clare Ostle
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Abstract In 2015 and 2019, the Northeast Pacific has undergone significant heatwave events that strongly disrupted marine ecosystems functioning and services. Here we use the data collected by the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey to investigate the changes in summer phytoplankton abundance and morphology and show an increase in prolate (i.e., elongated) taxa during heatwave events, in response to warmer temperatures and declining nitrate. We also investigate the impacts of the morphological shifts on the carbon cycle and show that warmer periods were dominated by prolate cells with high carbon content, whereas cooler periods were dominated by oblate (i.e., flattened) cells with low carbon content. By altering community composition and the overall cells sinking velocity, these morphological shifts likely impacted the carbon cycle, as they were correlated with changes in surface chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon concentrations.

Limnology and OceanographyVol. 70(9)
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (GB), University of Alaska Fairbanks (US), Université de Bretagne Occidentale (FR), North Pacific Marine Science Organization (CA), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (FR), Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (FR), Western Washington University (US)
National Science Foundation, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, North Pacific Marine Science Organization, North Pacific Research Board
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Marine and coastal ecosystems
3.59
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.