MEPS prepress abstract   -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14685

ABSTRACT: Phytoplankton are the major primary producers in the pelagic system, greatly influencing biogeochemical cycles, but little is known about the importance of shifting phytoplankton community composition for carbon dynamics. This study investigates the impact of seasonal changes in coastal phytoplankton communities on the pelagic carbon fluxes. A field sampling campaign, covering an annual cycle in primary production, was conducted to assess the seasonal changes of phytoplankton communities and relevant organic carbon parameters in the coastal Baltic Sea. The monitoring frequency ranged from 1 - 3 weeks, adapted to match the seasonal phytoplankton blooms. In addition, sediment traps were deployed to determine the particulate carbon and nutrient export to the seafloor in every season. We found that the phytoplankton biomass during the spring bloom was as high as 550 µg C l^-1 while being dominated by diatom species (88% of total phytoplankton biomass). In comparison, the more species-rich summer bloom reached a combined maximum biomass of 236 µg C l^-1. However, the highest export flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) was found in the middle of August (561 mmol C m^-2 d^-1) and not as expected, around the spring bloom, in May (226 mmol C m^-2 d^-1), suggesting a high potential of carbon recycling within the pelagic food web rather than exported to the seafloor or advected laterally. Our study emphasizes the importance of keystone species and diversity for carbon transport processes in marine coastal ecosystems and highlights complex relationships between phytoplankton biomass production, community composition and carbon dynamics.