Plankton community composition and productivity near the Subantarctic Prince Edward Islands archipelago in autumn

The Subantarctic Ocean is a sink for atmospheric CO2, largely due to its biological pump, which is enhanced by the influence of the Subantarctic islands on the plankton ecosystem (the so-called island mass effect). The influence of the Prince Edward Islands archipelago in the Indian Subantarctic on the surrounding hydrography and benthos has been well studied; however, over the last two decades, little attention has been paid to the functioning and productivity of its plankton ecosystem. Here, we present the first measurements of primary production at the archipelago in over 20 years and the first-ever rates of secondary production, interpreted in the context of hydrographic, biogeochemical, and plankton community composition data. In autumn 2017, after the late-summer bloom, nanophytoplankton dominated the near-island waters and regenerated nutrients fuelled 76% of phytoplankton growth. Primary production and carbon export potential (inferred from nitrate uptake) reached a local maximum in the inter-island region, which we attribute to water-mass retention and stratification over the inter-island plateau (a manifestation of the island mass effect). We observed a diverse mesozooplankton community, likely a remnant of the late-summer bloom rather than representing the consumers feeding on the in situ (nano)phytoplankton. We estimate that even after the decay of the late-summer bloom, roughly a quarter of the planktonic carbon was potentially exportable. This finding implies that the archipelago's upper-ocean ecosystem sequesters atmospheric CO2 at least through autumn despite high rates of recycling and inefficient trophic transfer, thereby contributing to the island mass effect-associated strengthening of the Subantarctic Ocean's biological pump.

Automated summary

The Subantarctic Ocean serves as a carbon sink due to the influence of the Subantarctic islands on the plankton ecosystem. Recent studies of the Prince Edward Islands archipelago show a dominant presence of nanophytoplankton post late-summer bloom, with significant nutrient regeneration contributing to phytoplankton growth. Despite high rates of recycling and inefficient trophic transfer, roughly a quarter of planktonic carbon remains potentially exportable, highlighting the archipelago's role in sequestering atmospheric CO2 and strengthening the Subantarctic Ocean's biological pump.