Phytoplankton community structure and dynamics in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre

摘要: Phytoplankton fuel epipelagic ecosystems and affect global biogeochemical cycles. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of quantitative information about the factors that determine both phytoplankton community structure dynamics, particularly in subtropical gyres. Here, we estimated size fractionated growth (μ) microzooplankton grazing rates (m) along transect North Atlantic, from island Hispaniola to Iberian Peninsula, by conducting dilution experiments fitting mixed models. We also examined relationship between nutrient availability differences at two spatial scales (i.e. gyre within-province scale). Our results revealed high values for rates. (0.00–1.19 d−1) displayed higher variability among stations, provinces fractions than rate (0.32–0.74 d−1). Differences were associated with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (0.72–5.85 μM; R2 = 0.19) squared Brunt-Vaisala frequency (R2 0.21) whole scale. Conversely, showed weak those properties ⩽ 0.05) scale, but stronger within province scale ⩾ 0.07). These support idea grow oligotrophic gyres, this likely due selection groups functional traits suited exploit low availability. Thus, shedding new, multi-scale knowledge on commonly misunderstood “ocean deserts”.