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bioRxiv2022

Trophic ecology of deep-sea megafauna in the ultra-oligotrophic Southeastern Mediterranean Sea

The trophic ecology of fourteen species of bathybenthic and bathypelagic fishes and six species of bathybenthic decapod crustaceans from the continental slope and rise of the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea (SEMS) was examined using stable isotope analysis. Mean {delta}13C values among fish species varied by more than 4.0{per thousand}, from -20.85{per thousand} (Macroramphosus scolopax) to -16.57{per thousand} (Conger conger and Centrophorus granulosus), and increased as a function of depth (200 - 1400 m). Mean {delta}13C values of the crustaceans showed smaller variation, between -16.38{per thousand} (Polycheles typhlops) and -18.50{per thousand} (Aristeus antennatus). This suggests a shift from pelagic to regenerated benthic carbon sources with depth. Benthic carbon regeneration is further supported by the low benthic-pelagic POM-{delta}13C values, averaging -24.7 {+/-} 1.2{per thousand}, and the mixing model results, presenting very low contribution of epipelagic POM to the bathyal fauna. Mean {delta}15N values of fish and crustacean species ranged 7.91 {+/-} 0.36{per thousand} to 11.36 {+/-} 0.39{per thousand} and 6.15 {+/-} 0.31{per thousand} to 7.69 {+/-} 0.37{per thousand}, respectively, resulting in trophic position estimates, occupying the third and the fourth trophic levels. Thus, despite the proximity to the more productive areas of the shallow shelf, low number of trophic levels (TL~1.0) and narrow isotopic niche breadths (SEAc <1) were observed for bathybenthic crustaceans (TL = 3.62 {+/-} 0.22) and bathypelagic fishes (TL = 4.33 {+/-} 0.34) in the study area - probably due to the ultra-oligotrophic state of the SEMS resulting in limited carbon sources. Our results, which provide the first trophic description of deep-sea megafauna in the SEMS, offer insight into the carbon sources and food web structure of deep-sea ecosystems in oligotrophic marginal seas, and can be further used in ecological modeling and support the sustainable management of marine resources in the deep Levantine Sea.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Elevated human footprint on islands promotes both introduction and extinction probability of insular reptiles at opposite ends of geographic, evolutionary and ecological continua

Species ranges are changing in the Anthropocene, the ranges of introduced species are expanding, while extinction-prone species are contracting. Introductions and extinctions are both caused by how species respond to human impacts, but it is unknown why the ranges of some species expand and some contract. Here, we test that this opposite response of human impact is due to introduced and extinction-prone species falling at opposite ends of geographic, evolutionary, or ecological trait continua. We constructed a database of native range maps, traits, phylogenetic relationships, and the introduction and extinction-prone status of squamate reptiles with ranges native to the Western Hemisphere. Across >3,000 snake and lizard species (88% of known native squamates), 142 had been introduced elsewhere and 483 were extinction-prone (i.e., extinct, vulnerable, threatened). To explain variation in status, we first tested if the same human-impacted regions in the Americas contained the native ranges of species of either status. Second, we tested for phylogenetic signal in species status. Finally, we tested the explanatory power of multiple trait continua. The native ranges of introduced and extinction-prone reptiles were clustered in island regions with high human impact vs. mainland regions with lower human impact. Phylogenetic signal was weak for status, but introduced and extinction-prone species were clustered in different clades. All geographic and ecological traits that explained both statuses supported the opposite ends hypothesis. Introduced species had larger, edgier ranges, while extinction-prone species had smaller, simpler ranges. Introduced species were mostly herbivorous/omnivorous, while extinction-prone species were mostly carnivorous. Introduced species produced larger clutches, while extinction-prone species were smaller in body size. In the Anthropocene, the naive ranges of introduced and extinction-prone species are in the same human-impacted regions where trait continua, having opposite effects, determine whether species ranges expand or contract in the continuing face of global change.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Correspondence Of Newcomb-Benford Number Law With Ecological Processes

The Newcomb-Benford number law has been applied in the natural sciences for decades, with little ecological attention. Empirical data transformed into significant digits reveal statistical correspondence between the discrete Benford probability distribution and physical systems in dynamic equilibrium along a continuum of stability. Analytic methods are presented to detect this mathematical representation across multiple levels of ecological organization and spatial scale. Case studies demonstrate novel application to help identify bidirectional regime changes to alternative states of dynamic equilibrium. Widespread documentation of the surprising phenomenon is anticipated as ecologists revisit historic sets of random measurement data and design future sampling protocols. Controlled experiments with measurement variables that span multiple orders of magnitude would be well suited for future empirical and theoretical inquiry.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Conservation networks do not match ecological requirements of amphibians

O_LIAmphibians are among the most threatened taxa as they are highly sensitive to habitat degradation and fragmentation. They are considered as model species to evaluate habitats quality in agricultural landscapes. In France, all amphibian species have a protected status requiring recovery plans for their conservation. Conservation networks combining protected areas and green infrastructure can help the maintenance of their habitats while favouring their movement in fragmented landscapes such as farmlands. Yet, assessing the effectiveness of conservation networks is challenging. C_LIO_LIHere, we compared the ecological requirements of amphibian species with existing conservation network coverage in a human-dominated region of western France. First, we mapped suitable habitat distributions for nine species of amphibian with varying ecological requirements and mobility. Second, we used stacking species distribution modelling (SSDM) to produce multi-species habitat suitability maps. Then, to identify spatial continuity in suitable habitats at the regional scale, we defined species and multi-species core habitats to perform a connectivity analysis using Circuitscape theory. Finally, we compared different suitability maps with existing conservation networks to assess conservation coverage and efficiency. C_LIO_LIWe highlighted a mismatch between the most suitable amphibian habitats at the regional scale and the conservation network, both for common species and for species of high conservation concern. We also found two bottlenecks between areas of suitable habitat which might be crucial for population movements induced by global change, especially for species associated with hedgerow mosaic landscapes. These bottlenecks were not covered by any form of protection and are located in an intensive farmland context. C_LIO_LISynthesis and applications - We advocate the need to better integrate agricultural landscape mosaics into species conservation planning as well as to protect and promote agroecological practices suitable for biodiversity, including mixed and extensive livestock farming. We also emphasize the importance of interacting landscape elements of green infrastructure for amphibian conservation and the need for these to be effectively considered in land-use planning policies. C_LI O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=185 SRC="FIGDIR/small/500425v4_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (62K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b6446forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@146e7c7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1ad210org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d545a0_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG PCI recommendation : https://ecology.peercommunityin.org/articles/rec?id=504

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Sampling bias and the robustness of ecological metrics for plant-damage-type association networks

Plants and their insect herbivores have been a dominant component of the terrestrial ecological landscape for the past 410 million years and feature intricate evolutionary patterns and co-dependencies. A complex systems perspective allows for both detailed resolution of these evolutionary relationships as well as comparison and synthesis across systems. Using proxy data of insect herbivore damage (denoted by the damage type or DT) preserved on fossil leaves, functional bipartite network representations provide insights into how plant-insect associations depend on geological time, paleogeographical space, and environmental variables such as temperature and precipitation. However, the metrics measured from such networks are prone to sampling bias. Such sensitivity is of special concern for plant-DT association networks in paleontological settings where sampling effort is often severely limited. Here, we explore the sensitivity of functional bipartite network metrics to sampling intensity and identify sampling thresholds above which metrics appear robust to sampling effort. Across a broad range of sampling efforts, we find network metrics to be less affected by sampling bias and/or sample size than richness metrics, which are routinely used in studies of fossil plant-DT interactions. These results provide reassurance that cross-comparisons of plant-DT networks offer insights into network structure and function and support their widespread use in paleoecology. Moreover, these findings suggest novel opportunities for using plant-DT networks in neontological terrestrial ecology to understand functional aspects of insect herbivory across geological time, environmental perturbations, and geographic space.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Genetic and ecological drivers of molt in a migratory bird

The ability of animals to sync the timing and location of molting (the replacement of hair, skin, exoskeletons or feathers) with peaks in resource availability has important implications for their ecology and evolution. In migratory birds, the timing and location of pre-migratory feather molting, a period when feathers are shed and replaced with newer, more aerodynamic feathers, can vary within and between species. While hypotheses to explain the evolution of intraspecific variation in the timing and location of molt have been proposed, little is known about the genetic basis of this trait or the specific environmental drivers that may result in natural selection for distinct molting phenotypes. Here we take advantage of intraspecific variation in the timing and location of molt in the iconic songbird, the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) to investigate the genetic and ecological drivers of distinct molting phenotypes. Specifically, we use genome-wide genetic sequencing in combination with stable isotope analysis to determine population genetic structure and molting phenotype across thirteen breeding sites. We then use genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) to identify a suite of genes associated with molting and pair this with gene-environment association analysis (GEA) to investigate potential environmental drivers of genetic variation in this trait. Associations between genetic variation in molt-linked genes and the environment are further tested via targeted SNP genotyping in 25 additional breeding populations across the range. Together, our integrative analysis suggests that molting is in part regulated by genes linked to feather development and structure (GLI2 and CSPG4) and that genetic variation in these genes is associated with seasonal variation in precipitation and aridity. Overall, this work provides important insights into the genetic basis and potential selective forces behind phenotypic variation in what is arguably one of the most important fitness-linked traits in a migratory bird.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Ecological corridors homogenize plant root endospheric mycobiota

Ecological corridors have been shown to promote species coexistence in fragmented habitats where dispersal limits species fluxes. The corridor concept was developed and investigated mainly by focusing on macroorganisms while microorganisms, the invisible majority of biodiversity, have been disregarded. Combining an experimental corridor-mesocosm design with high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we analyzed the effect of corridors on the dynamics of endospheric fungal assemblages associated with plant roots at metric scale over two years (i.e. at five time points). We show that the plant symbiotic compartment was sensitive to corridor effects when the corridors were set up at a small spatial scale. The endospheric mycobiota of connected plants displayed higher species richness, lower beta-diversity, and a more deterministic assembly than the mycobiota of isolated plants. These effects became more pronounced with the development of host plants. Biotic corridors composed of host plants may thus play a key role in the spatial dynamics of microbial community and may influence microbial diversity and related ecological functions.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Using mechanistic models to highlight research priorities for tick-borne zoonotic diseases: Improving our understanding of the ecology and maintenance of Kyasanur Forest Disease in India

The risk of spillover of zoonotic diseases to humans is changing in response to multiple environmental and societal drivers, particularly in tropical regions where the burden of neglected zoonotic diseases is highest and land use change and forest conversion is occurring most rapidly. In these regions, neglected zoonotic diseases can have significant impacts on poor and marginalised populations in low-resource settings but ultimately receive less attention and funding for research and interventions. As such, effective control measures and interventions are often hindered by a limited ecological evidence base, which results in a limited understanding of epidemiologically relevant hosts or vectors and the processes that contribute to the maintenance of pathogens and spillover to humans. Here, we develop a generalisable next generation matrix modelling framework to better understand the transmission processes and hosts that have the greatest contribution to the maintenance of tick-borne diseases with the aim of improving the ecological evidence base and framing future research priorities for tick-borne diseases. Using this model we explore the relative contribution of different host groups and transmission routes to the maintenance of a neglected zoonotic tick-borne disease, Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFD). The results highlight the potential importance of transovarial transmission and small mammals and birds in maintaining this disease. This contradicts previous hypotheses that primates play an important role influencing the distribution of infected ticks. There is also a suggestion that risk could vary across different habitat types. In light of these results we outline the key knowledge gaps for this system and future research priorities that would aid in informing effective interventions and control measures.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Natural history and ecological effects on the establishment and fate of Florida carpenter ant cadavers infected by the parasitic manipulator Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani.

O_LIOphiocordyceps fungi manipulate the behavior of their ant hosts to produce a summit disease phenotype, thereby establishing infected ant cadavers onto vegetation at elevated positions suitable for fungal growth and transmission. Multiple environmental and ecological factors have been proposed to shape the timing, positioning, and outcome of these manipulations. C_LIO_LIWe conducted a long-term field study of Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani infections of Camponotus floridanus ants - the Florida zombie ants. We propose and refine hypotheses on the factors that shape infection outcomes by tracking the occurrence of and fungal growth from hundreds of ant cadavers. We modeled and report these data in relation to weather, light, vegetation, and attack by hyperparasites. C_LIO_LIWe investigated environmental factors that could affect the occurrence and location of newly manipulated ant cadavers. New cadaver occurrence was preferentially biased toward epiphytic Tillandsia bromeliads, canopy openness, and summer weather conditions (an interactive effect of temperature, humidity, and precipitation). Furthermore, we suggest that incident light at the individual cadaver level reflects microhabitat choice by manipulated ants or selective pressure on cadaver maintenance for conditions that improve fungal survival. C_LIO_LIWe also asked which environmental conditions affect fungal fitness. Continued fungal development of reproductive structures and putative transmission increased with moist weather conditions (interaction of humidity and precipitation) and canopy openness, while being reduced by hyperparasitic mycoparasite infections. Moreover, under the most open canopy conditions, we found an atypical Ophiocordyceps growth morphology that could represent a plastic response to conditions influenced by high light levels. C_LIO_LITaken together, we explore general trends and the effects of various ecological conditions on host and parasite disease outcomes in the Florida zombie ant system. These insights from the field can be used to inform experimental laboratory setups that directly test the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on fungus-ant interactions or aim to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Leveraging PDE solver for predicting transient space-use dynamics in ecological and epidemiological systems

Model predictions of animal and human space-use patterns stemming from individual-level movement behaviors have not only contributed significantly to our understanding of population and community dynamics, but they could also inform the development of conservation, natural resource management, and disease control policies. The recent proliferation of high-resolution movement data has ushered in a paradigm shift in how space use is considered: instead of being defined narrowly as the stationary, long-term distribution of individual locations, there is a growing recognition of its transient dynamics, e.g.., how space-use pattern varies before it eventually stabilizes. However, movement models are slow to follow due to longstanding technical challenges in solving transient space-use dynamics. Here, we introduce a numerical framework that enables transient analysis of mechanistic movement models based on partial differential (Fokker-Planck) equations. We demonstrate its potential applications in the context of general research questions in movement ecology using classical and new case studies as illustrations. We demonstrate the frameworks applications and versatility in classical home range models, but also show how it may be extended to address new ecological questions.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Species Richness and Speciation Rates for all Terrestrial Animals Emerge from a Synthesis of Ecological Theories

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWThe total number of species on earth and the rate at which new species are created are fundamental questions for ecology, evolution and conservation. These questions have typically been approached separately, despite their obvious interconnection. In this manuscript we approach both questions in conjunction, for all terrestrial animals, which enables a more holistic integration and generates novel emergent predictions. To do this, we combine two previously unconnected bodies of theory: general ecosystem modelling and individual based ecological neutral theory. General ecosystem models provide us with estimated numbers of individual organisms, separated by functional group and body size. Neutral theory, applied within a guild of functionally similar individuals, connects species richness, speciation rate and number of individual organisms. In combination, for terrestrial endotherms where species numbers are known, they provide us with estimates for speciation rates as a function of body size and diet class. Extrapolating the same rates to guilds of ectotherms enables us to estimate the species richness of those groups, including species yet to be described. We find that speciation rates per species per million years decrease with increasing body size. Rates are also higher for carnivores compared to omnivores or herbivores of the same body size. Our estimate for the total number of terrestrial species of animals is in the range 1.03 - 2.92 million species, a value consistent with estimates from previous studies, despite having used a fundamentally new approach. Perhaps what is most remarkable about these results is that they have been obtained using only limited data from larger endotherms and their speciation rates, with the rest of the predictive process being based on mechanistic theory. This work illustrates the potential of a new approach to classic eco-evolutionary questions, while also adding weight to existing predictions. As we now face an era of dramatic biological change, new methods will be needed to mechanistically model global biodiversity at the species and individual organism level. This will be a huge challenge but the combination of general ecosystem models and neutral theory that we introduce here could be the only way to tractably achieve it.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Exploring how ecological and epidemiological processes shape multi-host disease dynamics using global sensitivity analysis

We use global sensitivity analysis (specifically, Partial Rank Correlation Coefficients) to explore the roles of ecological and epidemiological processes in shaping the temporal dynamics of a parameterized SIR-type model of two host species and an environmentally transmitted pathogen. We compute the sensitivities of disease prevalence in each host species to model parameters. Sensitivity rankings and subsequent biological interpretations are calculated and contrasted for cases were the pathogen is introduced into a disease-free community and where a second host species is introduced into an endemic single-host community. In some cases the magnitudes and dynamics of the sensitivities can be predicted only by knowing the host species characteristics (i.e., their competitive abilities and disease competence) whereas in other cases they can be predicted by factors independent of the species characteristics (specifically, intraspecific versus interspecific processes or the species roles of invader versus resident). For example, when a pathogen is initially introduced into a disease-free community, disease prevalence in both hosts is more sensitive to the burst size of the first host than the second host. In comparison, disease prevalence in each host is more sensitive to its own infection rate than the infection rate of the other host species. In total, this study illustrates that global sensitivity analysis can provide useful insight into how ecological and epidemiological processes shape disease dynamics and how those effects vary across time and system conditions. Our results show that sensitivity analysis can provide quantification and direction when exploring biological hypotheses.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

BIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF THE ECOLOGICAL STATE OF URBAN ECOSYSTEMS

AnnotationThe processes of urbanization and the development of industrial production entail active environmental pollution with pollutants of various nature. The existing analytical methods for their determination in natural media make it possible to reveal their concentration. But in conditions of complex soil pollution, this approach does not give a complete picture of their total impact on living organisms. In the course of the study, an assessment was made of the ecological state of soils in large administrative and industrial centers of the Southern Urals (the cities of Orenburg and Mednogorsk) in terms of their phytotoxicity and enzymatic activity. On the territory of the objects of study, soil samples were taken from a layer of 0-20 cm in various functional zones. Phytotoxicity was assessed using a wheat test culture, and indicators of urease and catalase activity were used to assess biological activity. The calculation of the integral indicator of the ecological state on their basis showed the development of processes of degradation of the soil cover of cities under the influence of urbanization.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Nutritional and host environments determine community ecology and keystone species in a synthetic gut bacterial community

Microbe-microbe interactions are critical for gut microbiome function. A challenging task to understand health and disease-related microbiome signatures is to move beyond descriptive community-level profiling towards disentangling microbial interaction networks. Here, we aimed to determine members taking on a keystone role in shaping community ecology of a widely used synthetic bacterial community (OMM12). Using single-species dropout communities and metabolomic profiling, we identified Bacteroides caecimuris I48, Blautia coccoides YL58 and Enterococcus faecalis KB1 as major drivers of in vitro community assembly and elucidated underlying mechanisms of these keystone functions. Importantly, keystone species and bacterial strain relationships were found to strongly vary across different nutritional conditions, depending on the strains potential to modify the corresponding environment. Further, gnotobiotic mice transplanted with communities lacking B. caecimuris I48 and B. coccoides YL58 exhibited morphological anomalies and altered intestinal metabolomic profiles, exposing physiologically relevant functions of these keystone community members. In summary, the presented study experimentally confirms the strong interdependency between bacterial community ecology and the biotic and abiotic environment, underlining the context-dependency and conditionality of bacterial interaction networks.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Ecological network analysis reveals cancer-dependent chaperone-client interaction structure and robustness in the mitochondria

Cancer cells alter the expression levels of metabolic enzymes to fuel proliferation. The mitochondrion is a central hub of metabolic reprogramming, where multiple chaperons service hundreds of clients, forming complex chaperone-client interaction networks (CCINs). Studying (i) how network structure varies across cancer types and (ii) the influence of structure on networks robustness to chaperon targeting is key to developing cancer-specific drug therapy. We investigate these yet unaddressed questions using theory and methodology from network ecology. We show that CCINs are non-randomly structured across cancer types. Moreover, we identify groups of chaperones that interact with similar clients, providing specialization on clients but also redundancy in the case of chaperone removal on the other. Simulations of network robustness show that this modular structure strongly affects cancer-specific response to chaperon removal. Our results open the door for new hypotheses regarding the ecology and evolution of CCINs and can inform caner-specific drug development strategies.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Simulated climate change causes asymmetric responses in insect life history timing potentially disrupting a classic ecological speciation system

Climate change may alter phenology within populations with cascading consequences for community interactions and on-going evolutionary processes. Here, we measured the response to climate change in two sympatric, recently diverged (~170 years) populations of Rhagoletis pomonella flies specialized on different host fruits (hawthorn and apple) and their parasitoid wasp communities. We tested whether warmer temperatures affect dormancy regulation and its consequences for synchrony across trophic levels and temporal isolation between divergent populations. Under warmer temperatures, both fly populations developed earlier. However, warming significantly increased the proportion of maladaptive pre-winter development in apple, but not hawthorn, flies. Parasitoid phenology was less affected, potentially generating ecological asynchrony. Observed shifts in fly phenology under warming may decrease temporal isolation, potentially limiting on-going divergence. Our findings of complex sensitivity of life-history timing to changing temperatures predict that coming decades may see multifaceted ecological and evolutionary changes in temporal specialist communities.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Let there be nightlights: the ecological role of bioluminescence in a Costa Rican mushroom

Both marine and terrestrial organisms produce light enzymatically in a process called bioluminescence. Though the ecological role of light production is known for some species, such as fireflies and bacteria, the ecological role in mushroom-producing fungi remains relatively unexplored, particularly in Central America. Here, we discovered a bioluminescent mushroom in the high-elevation oak forests of Costa Rica. We developed mushroom models with Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) producing various colors: green, blue, red, and yellow. Over three consecutive evenings after sunset, we applied Tanglefoot invertebrate-trapping glue to both mushroom models and actual mushrooms, and collected the traps before sunrise, then identified the trapped invertebrates to Order. We found green LED traps attracted more invertebrates than non-lit control traps, suggesting that light functions to attract invertebrates. The majority of invertebrates attracted to the green lights were Dipteran flies, who would be capable of dispersing fungal spores. The higher-intensity green LEDs attracted more total invertebrates than the dimmer mushrooms, but the results were not significant. Though we predicted that the invertebrate assemblages attracted to green lights would be similar to the invertebrate assemblage attracted to actual mushrooms, the results were not significant. Similarly, the red, blue, and yellow LEDs attracted fewer invertebrates than the green LEDs, but the differences in community composition were not statistically significant. Our findings corroborate other similar studies in tropical regions that found bioluminescent mushrooms may attract invertebrates.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Investigating a Gulf Stream Frontal Eddy North of Cape Hatteras: Questioning Overall Impacts on Ecology

Ocean physics and biology can interact in myriad and complex ways. Eddies, features found at many scales in the ocean, can drive substantial changes in physical and biogeochemical fields with major implications for marine ecosystems. Mesoscale eddies are challenging to model and difficult to observe synoptically at sea due to their fine-scale variability yet broad extent. In this work we observed a frontal eddy just north of Cape Hatteras via an intensive hydrographic, biogeochemical, and optical sampling campaign. Frontal eddies occur in western boundary currents around the globe and there are major gaps in our understanding of their ecosystem impacts. In the Gulf Stream, frontal eddies have been studied in the South Atlantic Bight, where they are generally assumed to shear apart passing Cape Hatteras. However, we found that the observed frontal eddy had different physical properties and phytoplankton community composition from adjacent water masses, in addition to continued cyclonic rotation. In this work we first synthesize the overall ecological impacts of frontal eddies in a simple conceptual model. This conceptual model led to the hypothesis that frontal eddies could be well timed to supply zooplankton to secondary consumers off Cape Hatteras where there is a notably high concentration and diversity of top predators. Towards testing this hypothesis and our conceptual model we report on the biogeochemical state of this particular eddy connecting physical and biological dynamics, analyze how it differs from Gulf Stream and shelf waters even in "death", and refine our initial model with this new data. Key PointsO_LIIn-depth investigation of a frontal eddy in the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina C_LIO_LIContinued physical and biogeochemical differences are observed between the eddy and adjacent water masses even as it begins to shear apart C_LIO_LIWe share a conceptual model of the ecological impact of frontal eddies with a hypothesis that they supply zooplankton to secondary consumers C_LI Plain Language SummaryFrontal eddies are spinning masses of water (~30km in diameter) that move along western boundary currents like the Gulf Stream. When they form they carry productive coastal water into the Gulf Stream and drive upwelling within their cores. Together this leads to an increase in the amount of phytoplankton within them - much higher compared to surrounding nutrient-limited Gulf Stream water. On the east coast of the United States one common area of frontal eddy formation is just off Charleston, SC. Eddies then travel up the coast and dissipate near Cape Hatteras, NC. In this work we measured a wide range of physical and biological properties of a frontal eddy just north of Cape Hatteras. We compared these properties within the eddy to the coastal water on one side and the Gulf Stream water on the other, finding clear differences in phytoplankton community composition and other physical and chemical properties. Using the results of these observations together with previous studies we share a simple model for how frontal eddies may impact phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish - hypothesizing that they may contribute to the high diversity and density of top predators off Cape Hatteras.

ecology↗