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Long-term field observations on seasonality in chlorophyll-a concentrations in a shallow coastal marine ecosystem, the Wadden Sea
Philippart, C.J.M.; van Iperen, J.M.; Cadée, G.C. (2010). Long-term field observations on seasonality in chlorophyll-a concentrations in a shallow coastal marine ecosystem, the Wadden Sea. Est. Coast. 33(2): 286-294. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9236-y
In: Estuaries and Coasts. Estuarine Research Federation: Port Republic, Md.. ISSN 1559-2723; e-ISSN 1559-2731, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton
    Coastal environments
    Ecosystems
    Organic compounds > Carbohydrates > Glycosides > Pigments > Photosynthetic pigments > Chlorophylls
    Phenology
    ANE, Wadden Sea [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Long-term dynamics; Phytoplankton; Chlorophyll-a; Phenology; Coastalmarine ecosystems

Authors  Top 
  • Philippart, C.J.M., more
  • van Iperen, J.M.
  • Cadée, G.C., more

Abstract
    Analyses of long-term field observations (1974–2007) on chlorophyll-a concentrations in the western Wadden Sea showed no long-term trends in the timing of the wax and wane of phytoplankton spring blooms. There is weak evidence, however, that the height of the autumn bloom has decreased since the early 1990s. This fading of the autumn bloom may have had consequences for the carbon transfer to higher trophic levels, currently hampering primary consumer species that mostly rely on food supply during late summer. Current and other findings suggest a shortening of the growing season due to the fading of the autumn bloom in the Wadden Sea and a lengthening of the growing season due to an advancement of the spring bloom in the North Sea. These regionally different changes in seasonality may have contributed to the coinciding decrease in bivalve filtering capacity in the western Wadden Sea and the large-scale offshore shift of juvenile plaice from the Wadden Sea to the adjacent North Sea.

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