Fine-scale observations reveal distinct frontal phytoplankton communities
Abstract Phytoplankton community composition plays a key role in oceanic productivity and in the biological carbon pump. A few in situ surveys documented the structuring role of fine-scale physical structures (1-100 km, day-weeks), such as fronts, on phytoplankton communities. These studies were primarily conducted in highly productive and dynamic regions rather than in oligotrophic and moderate energy conditions commonly found in the global ocean, partly due to challenges in tracking and sampling weaker fronts at high-resolution. Guided by novel SWOT (Surface Water Ocean Topography) altimetry, we used an adaptive and multidisciplinary strategy to conduct high-resolution sampling of a fine-scale front in the oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea. An unprecedented 24-hour continuous sampling within the front was crucial to unveiling a distinct frontal community, where the relative contribution of non-dominant phytoplankton groups increased relative to adjacent water masses. Our results statistically demonstrate that fine-scale features can enhance phytoplankton heterogeneity and community diversity in oligotrophic, moderately energetic regions.
Authors
- Maristella Berta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5428-9741)
- Blandine Courtois
- Wuchang Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-8368)
- Louise Rousselet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5016-3658)
- K Leblanc
- Lloyd Izard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7181-9203)
- Marco Bellacicco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0477-173X)
- Elvira Pulido‐Villena (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5436-2133)
- Monique Messié (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4985-3413)
- Laurina Oms
- Aude Joël
- Xavier Capet
- Ludivine Grand
- Sandra Nunige
- Anne Petrenko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2519-9285)
- Andrea Doglioli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1309-9954)
- Gérald Grégori
- Marina Lévy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2961-608X)
- Francesco d’Ovidio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9664-7778)
- Stéphanie Barrillon
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (US)
- Université de Toulon (FR)
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- Aix-Marseille Université (FR)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Institute of Oceanology (CN)
- Institute of Marine Engineering (IT)
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat : Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (FR)
- National Research Council (IT)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Earth & Environment
- Published
- 2026-05-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03350-0
- Primary Topic
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00