Plankton in a Changing World: The Impact of Global Change on Marine Ecosystems by Albert Calbet

Author:Albert Calbet [Calbet, Albert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783031761218
Google: csY0EQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Springer Nature

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Plankton

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is a long-term ocean fluctuation pattern that can significantly impact plankton populations. The PDO operates on a timescale of 20 to 30 years and involves shifts in sea surface temperatures across the Pacific Ocean. During its positive phase, the western Pacific becomes cooler while the eastern Pacific warms, leading to altered ocean currents and wind patterns. These changes can suppress the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters along the western coast of the Americas, similar to El Niño conditions but on a longer timescale. As a result, phytoplankton productivity in these regions can decline, reducing the primary food source for zooplankton and higher trophic levels, including fish and marine mammals.

Conversely, the negative phase of the PDO, which features cooler conditions in the eastern Pacific and warmer conditions in the west, typically enhances upwelling along the American coastlines. This leads to an increase in nutrient availability and a boost in phytoplankton growth. Consequently, zooplankton populations also thrive, supporting a more robust and diverse marine food web. Understanding the PDO’s phases helps predict long-term trends in marine productivity and ecosystem health.

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