Phytoplankton distribution in the turbulent Ocean

– Théo Garcia, MIO, Marseille –

Résumé :

Fine-scale oceanic fronts (1-100 km, days few weeks) are ubiquitous physical features that separate contrasting water masses, creating significant heterogeneity in the physical seascape and plankton distributions. As phytoplankton community composition is a key driver of marine ecosystem functioning, it is critical to understand the extent to which fine-scale fronts influence phytoplankton distribution. However, the ephemeral nature of fine-scale fronts makes them difficult to study. In this presentation, we present our approach to investigating phytoplankton community composition and its relationship with physical structures, using data from in situ cruises and satellite observations.