Abstract

Changes in phytoplankton composition and abundance are controlled by multiple factors, including physical forcing and nutrient stoichiometry. This study seeks to assess the interplay between the environmental and biogeochemical conditions in shaping the phytoplankton community structure in open ocean waters off western Patagonia. For this purpose, we used biological, hydrographic, and chemical data measured aboard the R/V Mirai during the austral summer of 2017, combined with remote sensing and reanalysis products. Although no first-order predictive relationships were found between the environmental and biological data, the results showed a latitudinal gradient of the phytoplankton structure, favoring maximum abundances of diatoms (similar to 10x10(4) cells L-1) in the northern area (similar to 43-48 degrees S) characterized by high stratification and freshwater content. The high diatom abundances of Thalassiosira spp., Chaetoceros spp., Pseudo-nitzschia cf. australis and Pseudo-nitzschia cf. pseudodelicatissima taxa in this area results in a nutrient content decreases (nitrate < 9 mu mol kg(-1), phosphate < 0.9 mu mol kg(-1), silicic acid < 1.5 mu mol kg(-1)), and low N:Si (<8) and N:P (<10) ratios. Nonetheless, the total dinoflagellates abundance was equal to or higher than those of diatoms (similar to 10.2x10(4) cells L--(1)) throughout most of the sampling region. Specifically, maximum abundances (similar to 6.3x10(4) cells L--(1)) of Karenia spp. were found in the north under the freshwater influence from the Gulf of Penas, where the highest ammonium:nitrate ratio (similar to 4 to 11.5) was recorded. In contrast, high dinoflagellate abundances of Azadinium spp. were found in the south (similar to 48-55 degrees S), where an increase of nutrient content (nitrate similar to 12 mu mol kg(-)(1), phosphate similar to 1 mu mol kg(-)(1), ammonium similar to 0.4 mu mol kg(-)(1)), and high N:Si and N:P ratios (similar to 35 and similar to 12) were observed. This study highlights a major presence of potentially toxic phytoplankton species in the oceanic zone off northern Patagonia under conditions of strong latitudinal and cross-shore gradients in nutrient content and salinity, related to the interplay between oceanic water masses and freshwater input.