The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas
This study investigates the intricate dynamics of siliceous plankton species within the open marine regions of the Greek Seas, focusing on their seasonal and spatial variability. For this purpose, vertical export fluxes of diatoms (DtF), silicoflagellates (SF), and radiolaria (RF) were analyzed in t...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Ioanna Nikolopoulou Elisavet Skampa Ioanna Varkitzi Margarita D. Dimiza Constantine Parinos Georgia Kambouri Ioanna Stavrakaki Alexandra Gogou Maria V. Triantaphyllou |
| author_facet | Ioanna Nikolopoulou Elisavet Skampa Ioanna Varkitzi Margarita D. Dimiza Constantine Parinos Georgia Kambouri Ioanna Stavrakaki Alexandra Gogou Maria V. Triantaphyllou |
| author_sort | Ioanna Nikolopoulou |
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| description | This study investigates the intricate dynamics of siliceous plankton species within the open marine regions of the Greek Seas, focusing on their seasonal and spatial variability. For this purpose, vertical export fluxes of diatoms (DtF), silicoflagellates (SF), and radiolaria (RF) were analyzed in three sediment trap time series obtained from the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas. Special attention was given to diatom assemblages, resulting in the estimation of the DtF community structure and diversity for each studied site. Diatom flux values reached 353.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> valves m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, 77.7 × 10<sup>3</sup> valves m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, and 42.4 × 10<sup>3</sup> valves m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the North Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas, respectively. SF maxima were 1309.8 × 10<sup>3</sup> skeletons m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the North Aegean Sea, 35.2 × 10<sup>3</sup> skeletons m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the Ionian Sea, and 11.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> skeletons m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the Cretan Sea (South Aegean Sea). RF values reached 13.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> radiolaria m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, 11.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> radiolaria m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, and 5.4 × 10<sup>3</sup> radiolaria m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the North Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas, respectively. The North Aegean Sea exhibited significantly higher mean total fluxes, particularly for diatoms, driven by the north-to-south oligotrophy gradient, which was influenced by riverine inflows and the nutrient-rich Black Sea water. In the Cretan and Ionian Seas, convective mixing and atmospheric deposition, especially during increased rainfall (precipitation) events, were identified as primary drivers for the increased siliceous plankton fluxes recorded in the late winter–spring months. Diatom communities were dominated by Naviculales and Fragilariales; the prevalence of the former in the North Aegean Sea is likely linked to the higher nutrient levels in its upper photic zone, as Naviculales includes species with a high affiliation to nutrient enrichment. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8cdec034ed174b908080bda68ece24cd2025-08-20T02:47:58ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122024-11-011211208410.3390/jmse12112084The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian SeasIoanna Nikolopoulou0Elisavet Skampa1Ioanna Varkitzi2Margarita D. Dimiza3Constantine Parinos4Georgia Kambouri5Ioanna Stavrakaki6Alexandra Gogou7Maria V. Triantaphyllou8Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceFaculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, GreeceFaculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, GreeceFaculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceThis study investigates the intricate dynamics of siliceous plankton species within the open marine regions of the Greek Seas, focusing on their seasonal and spatial variability. For this purpose, vertical export fluxes of diatoms (DtF), silicoflagellates (SF), and radiolaria (RF) were analyzed in three sediment trap time series obtained from the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas. Special attention was given to diatom assemblages, resulting in the estimation of the DtF community structure and diversity for each studied site. Diatom flux values reached 353.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> valves m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, 77.7 × 10<sup>3</sup> valves m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, and 42.4 × 10<sup>3</sup> valves m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the North Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas, respectively. SF maxima were 1309.8 × 10<sup>3</sup> skeletons m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the North Aegean Sea, 35.2 × 10<sup>3</sup> skeletons m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the Ionian Sea, and 11.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> skeletons m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the Cretan Sea (South Aegean Sea). RF values reached 13.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> radiolaria m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, 11.9 × 10<sup>3</sup> radiolaria m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, and 5.4 × 10<sup>3</sup> radiolaria m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> in the North Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas, respectively. The North Aegean Sea exhibited significantly higher mean total fluxes, particularly for diatoms, driven by the north-to-south oligotrophy gradient, which was influenced by riverine inflows and the nutrient-rich Black Sea water. In the Cretan and Ionian Seas, convective mixing and atmospheric deposition, especially during increased rainfall (precipitation) events, were identified as primary drivers for the increased siliceous plankton fluxes recorded in the late winter–spring months. Diatom communities were dominated by Naviculales and Fragilariales; the prevalence of the former in the North Aegean Sea is likely linked to the higher nutrient levels in its upper photic zone, as Naviculales includes species with a high affiliation to nutrient enrichment.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/11/2084siliceous planktondiatomsbiodiversitysediment trapsvertical fluxEastern Mediterranean Sea |
| spellingShingle | Ioanna Nikolopoulou Elisavet Skampa Ioanna Varkitzi Margarita D. Dimiza Constantine Parinos Georgia Kambouri Ioanna Stavrakaki Alexandra Gogou Maria V. Triantaphyllou The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas Journal of Marine Science and Engineering siliceous plankton diatoms biodiversity sediment traps vertical flux Eastern Mediterranean Sea |
| title | The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas |
| title_full | The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas |
| title_fullStr | The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas |
| title_short | The Contribution of Siliceous Plankton to Vertical Export Flux in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Comparative Study of the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas |
| title_sort | contribution of siliceous plankton to vertical export flux in the eastern mediterranean a comparative study of the north aegean cretan and ionian seas |
| topic | siliceous plankton diatoms biodiversity sediment traps vertical flux Eastern Mediterranean Sea |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/11/2084 |
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