Large bio-geographical shifts in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean: From the subpolar gyre, via plankton, to blue whiting and pilot whales

摘要: Pronounced changes in fauna, extending from the English Channel south to Barents Sea north-east and off Greenland north-west, have occurred late 1920s, 1960s again 1990s. We attribute these events exchanges of subarctic subtropical water masses north-eastern North Atlantic Ocean, associated with strength extent subpolar gyre. These lead variations influence exerted by or Lusitanian biomes on intermediate faunistic zone Atlantic. This strong persistent bottom-up bio-physical link is demonstrated using a numerical ocean general circulation model data four trophically connected levels food chain – phytoplankton, zooplankton, blue whiting, pilot whales. The plankton give unique basin-scale depiction changes, long whale record Faroe Islands offers an exceptional temporal perspective over three centuries. Recent advances simulating dynamics gyre suggests potential for predicting distribution main zones few years into future, which might facilitate more rational management commercially important fisheries this region.