Wang Xingzhou, Wu Xi, Sun Jun
College of Marine Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China; Research Centre for Indian Ocean Ecosystem, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
College of Marine Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China; Research Centre for Indian Ocean Ecosystem, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Mar;212:117548. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117548. Epub 2025 Jan 14.
To fully understand variation in phytoplankton community structure in the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO), two research cruises were carried out during September-November 2020, and March-May 2021. The phytoplankton community in the EIO was mainly composed of cyanobacteria and diatoms in 2020, cyanobacteria in 2021. Trichodesmium thiebaultii was the dominant specie in both years. The phytoplankton community of the EIO was classified into two provinces based on cluster. The RDA results indicated that in 2020, DIP was the predominant factor influencing phytoplankton abundance, but DIN as the main factor affecting phytoplankton abundance in 2021. Meanwhile, the SEM demonstrated that temperature and salinity indirectly influenced phytoplankton abundance by affecting nutrient concentrations (DIN and DIP) and vertical stratification index (VSI). Changes in nutrient concentrations had a greater impact on phytoplankton communities, especially diatoms and dinoflagellates. The phytoplankton community shifted from cyanobacteria to diatoms when VSI decrease, the composition of the community was also more complex. The composition and assembly mechanisms of phytoplankton communities indicated that seasonal seawater mixing enhanced growth and interspecific interactions, thus increasing network complexity and significantly influencing community structure.
