Sharp gradients in phytoplankton community structure across a frontal zone in the California Current Ecosystem

Spatial variability of plankton biomass, community composition and size structure was investigated across a strong frontal transition (A-Front) in the southern California Current Ecosystem in October 2008. Depth profiles were taken across a 25-km transect of nine stations sampled semi-synoptically during one night and for 3 days following drifter arrays in the adjacent water masses. Community compositions are compared based on analyses by digital epifluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and pigment composition by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Our results show three assemblages sharply delineated in space, with plankton at the front being compositionally distinct and biomass elevated relative to either of the adjacent water masses. Depth-averaged chlorophyll a (Chl a) varied by a factor of 2.3 (0.350.81 g Chl a L-1) and autotrophic carbon (AC) varied almost 3-fold (13.635.4 g C L-1) across the front. One of the most striking features was a sharp gradient in the distribution of Prochlorococcus (PRO) and Synechococcus (SYN), with PRO located in the warmer oligotrophic waters on the south side of the front and SYN located in the cooler mesotrophic waters to the north. Both PRO and SYN had local biomass minima directly at the front. The peak in phytoplankton biomass at the front was dominated by large (20 m) diatom cells, comprising 71 of the total community biomass. In contrast to previous studies of frontal features in the southern California Current, our study of the A-Front shows strong frontal enhancement of phytoplankton biomass and a shift of phytoplankton size structure towards larger cells.