Latitudinal gradient consistency in carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of particulate organic matter in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 631:19-30 (2019) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13137 Latitudinal gradient consistency in carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of particulate organic matter in the Southern Ocean B. Espinasse1,2,*, E. A. Pakhomov1,2,3, B. P. V. Hunt1,2,3, S. J. Bury4 1Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2020-2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada 2Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, AERL, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada 3Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, V0P 1H0, Canada 4National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA), 301 Evans Bay Parade, Greta Point, Wellington, 6021, New Zealand *Corresponding author: [e-mail] ABSTRACT: The Southern Ocean is characterized by strong latitudinal gradients that delimit areas which differ in terms of hydrological properties and production dynamics. Stable isotope values of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) of surface particulate organic matter (POM) collected along a repeated transect between Cape Town and the Antarctic continent in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during summer 2005/06, fall 2004 and winter 2006 were analyzed to investigate their seasonal variability. In addition, published transect data collected in other sectors of the Southern Ocean were compiled for a wider spatio-temporal study of the POM stable isotope patterns. Combined δ13C and δ15N values of POM appeared to be an effective tool for identifying circum-Antarctic, latitudinally arranged areas with specific water mass characteristics and separated by the major frontal systems. Furthermore, POM δ13C values showed year-around consistency. We identified a few mechanisms that should be taken into account to effectively model carbon and nitrogen isoscapes in the studied area. The average level of primary productivity needs to be known to explain slightly higher δ13C values occurring in the Atlantic sector between the Subantarctic and Antarctic Polar Fronts. In addition, δ13C and δ15N values were highly variable in the marginal ice zone, especially at the ice edge and in the middle of the Weddell gyre. Processes linked to ice dynamics and upwelling explained some of the outlying values, especially for δ15N. Improved comprehension of the main mechanisms driving changes in POM stable isotopes will enable satellite products to be used as predictors to model realistic isoscapes on the scale of the Southern Ocean over different temporal scales. KEY WORDS: δ13C and δ15N · POM · Ice edge · Antarctic divergence · Isoscapes Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Espinasse B, Pakhomov EA, Hunt BPV, Bury SJ (2019) Latitudinal gradient consistency in carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of particulate organic matter in the Southern Ocean. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 631:19-30. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13137 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 631. Online publication date: November 21, 2019 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2019 Inter-Research.