Primary production enhancement in a shallow seamount (Gorringe - Northeast Atlantic)

Abstract

Gorringe bank is a shallow seamount having its summit within the euphotic layer. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the interaction of ocean currents with shallow water seamounts, as the Gorringe, has a significant effect on local upwelling and primary production. Three hydrographic surveys were carried out: one in autumn (October 2011) and two in summer (June and July 2012). Physical (salinity, temperature), chemical (nutrients, dissolved oxygen, pH, total alkalinity and suspended particulate matter) and biological (chlorophyll, pelagic primary production and phytoplankton composition and abundance) variables were measured and/or determined in the area of Gorringe Bank, in particular over and around the Ormonde and Gettysburg peaks. Multivariate analyses (PCA and MDS) were applied to environmental and phytoplankton data. Statistical analysis of historical satellite and model data was also carried out in order to analyze local hydrographic conditions and to compare sea surface temperature and chlorophyll concentrations over the peaks and off the peaks in different seasons. Pelagic primary production, measured by Dissolved Oxygen methodology, reached values up to 24.10 mg C m− 3 h− 1 in the vicinity of the peaks. Phytoplankton abundance ranged from 2.2 × 103 to 14 × 103 cells L− 1, being the community composed mainly of chain-forming Diatoms like Chaetoceros sp., Dactyliosolen spp., Hemiaulus hauckii and Pseudonitzschia spp., in summer months, in zones of high hydrodynamics of the peaks. By contrast, at locations away of the seamount summits and in autumn, Coccolithophores species reached the same or higher percentage in total abundance than Diatoms, being Discosphaera tubifer and Calcidiscus leptoporus cf. the most abundant species. The combined results indicate the presence of a seasonal effect of Gorringe summits on local upwelling and enhancement of primary production reflected in higher abundance of phytoplankton in the vicinity of the peaks, with emphasis on the Gettysburg, and higher surface chlorophyll concentrations. Therefore, obtained results support the hypothesis of production enhancement.