Phytoplankton and its relationship with the physical-chemical variability in the marine ecosystem of the South Shetland Islands (Greenwich, Dee, Barrientos and Roberth), Antarctica during the austral summers 2023, 2024 and 2025

Authors

  • Maria Elena Tapia Bernitta Instituto Oceanográfico y Antártico de la Armada. Av. 25 de julio 2601 vía Pto Marítimo. 090205. Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1988-5940
  • Christian Manuel Naranjo Padilla Instituto Oceanográfico y Antártico de la Armada. Av. 25 de julio 2601 vía Pto Marítimo. 090205. Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4283-2783
  • Luis Troccoli Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Oriente, Núcleo Nueva Esparta Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8684-6741
  • Rubén Choto Chariguaman Instituto Oceanográfico y Antártico de la Armada. Av. 25 de julio 2601 vía Pto Marítimo. 090205. Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3167-4318
  • Alfredo Lynch alfedo.lynch@inocar.mil.ec Instituto Oceanográfico y Antártico de la Armada. Av. 25 de julio 2601 vía Pto Marítimo. 090205. Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3988-8830

Keywords:

chlorophyll , diatoms , interanual variability , PCA, oceanic productivity

Abstract

The study, conducted between 2023, 2024, and 2025 in waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, revealed marked temporal variability in the structure and composition of phytoplankton, closely related to local physical and chemical conditions. During the southern summers of 2023 and 2025, maximum chlorophyll concentrations were recorded, associated with an increase in nutrient availability and a decrease in salinity due to summer thawing, favoring the dominance of centric diatoms such as Rhizosolenia imbricata, Corethron criophilum, and Thalassiosira rotula. In contrast, during 2024, species with a lower contribution to total biomass (Licmophora flabellata, Actinoptychus splendens, Surirella fastuosa) prevailed. The positive correlations between chlorophyll, nitrate, and salinity with dominant species reflect a direct response of phytoplankton to nutrient availability and water column stability. These results are consistent with recent studies indicating an increase in primary productivity linked to sea ice retreat and greater surface layer stability. From an ecological perspective, the observed interannual variability highlights the sensitivity of Antarctic phytoplankton to large-scale climate forcings, confirming its key role in biogeochemical regulation and in the trophic base of the polar marine ecosystem.

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2026-03-31

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Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): Revista Ciencias del Mar UAS

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