Tropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross Gyre

Abstract Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Ross Sea region are believed to spawn predominantly in the northern parts of the Ross Gyre during the austral winter with fluctuations in their recruitment observed. This Lagrangian modelling study attempts to explain these fluctuations and...

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Main Authors: Erik Behrens, Arnaud Grüss, Matt Pinkerton, Steve Parker, Graham Rickard, Craig Stevens
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78248-y
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author Erik Behrens
Arnaud Grüss
Matt Pinkerton
Steve Parker
Graham Rickard
Craig Stevens
author_facet Erik Behrens
Arnaud Grüss
Matt Pinkerton
Steve Parker
Graham Rickard
Craig Stevens
author_sort Erik Behrens
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Ross Sea region are believed to spawn predominantly in the northern parts of the Ross Gyre during the austral winter with fluctuations in their recruitment observed. This Lagrangian modelling study attempts to explain these fluctuations and shows how sea-ice drift impacts the buoyant eggs and the overall recruitment of juveniles reaching the Amundsen shelf break. Interannual variations in the Amundsen Sea Low, linked to tropical sea surface temperatures, cause modulations in the sea-ice drift and subsequent recruitment. When the Amundsen Sea Low is weaker, consistent with El Niño conditions, the northward sea-ice drift reduces, and more eggs remain within the Ross Gyre leading to a larger recruitment success. Conversely, recruitment success reduces during La Niña conditions. The sea-ice drift may explain about 80% of the interannual Antarctic toothfish recruitment variability over the period 1975–2016 and is of particular importance during the first year after spawning. These results enable future interannual changes in Antarctic toothfish recruitment success based on remote observations to be anticipated. Our findings suggest that ongoing climate change strengthening of the Amundsen Sea Low, will likely contribute to a long-term toothfish recruitment decline in the Ross Gyre region.
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spelling doaj-art-3db03de2d6544e07b6861c0613acf1322025-08-20T02:50:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-78248-yTropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross GyreErik Behrens0Arnaud Grüss1Matt Pinkerton2Steve Parker3Graham Rickard4Craig Stevens5National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchConservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchAbstract Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Ross Sea region are believed to spawn predominantly in the northern parts of the Ross Gyre during the austral winter with fluctuations in their recruitment observed. This Lagrangian modelling study attempts to explain these fluctuations and shows how sea-ice drift impacts the buoyant eggs and the overall recruitment of juveniles reaching the Amundsen shelf break. Interannual variations in the Amundsen Sea Low, linked to tropical sea surface temperatures, cause modulations in the sea-ice drift and subsequent recruitment. When the Amundsen Sea Low is weaker, consistent with El Niño conditions, the northward sea-ice drift reduces, and more eggs remain within the Ross Gyre leading to a larger recruitment success. Conversely, recruitment success reduces during La Niña conditions. The sea-ice drift may explain about 80% of the interannual Antarctic toothfish recruitment variability over the period 1975–2016 and is of particular importance during the first year after spawning. These results enable future interannual changes in Antarctic toothfish recruitment success based on remote observations to be anticipated. Our findings suggest that ongoing climate change strengthening of the Amundsen Sea Low, will likely contribute to a long-term toothfish recruitment decline in the Ross Gyre region.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78248-y
spellingShingle Erik Behrens
Arnaud Grüss
Matt Pinkerton
Steve Parker
Graham Rickard
Craig Stevens
Tropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross Gyre
Scientific Reports
title Tropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross Gyre
title_full Tropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross Gyre
title_fullStr Tropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross Gyre
title_full_unstemmed Tropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross Gyre
title_short Tropical teleconnections through the Amundsen Sea Low impact Antarctic toothfish recruitment within the Ross Gyre
title_sort tropical teleconnections through the amundsen sea low impact antarctic toothfish recruitment within the ross gyre
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78248-y
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