Orni-eutrophication by Inca terns (Larosterna inca) during the KOSMOS study 2017 in the coastal upwelling system off Peru.

Boxhammer, Tim , Bach, Lennart T. , Sswat, Michael and Riebesell, Ulf (2019) Orni-eutrophication by Inca terns (Larosterna inca) during the KOSMOS study 2017 in the coastal upwelling system off Peru. Open Access DOI 10.3289/ORNI_EUTROPHICATION.

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Abstract

In early 2017 we deployed eight KOSMOS [a] mesocosm units (53 m^3 each) close to ‘Isla San
Lorenzo’ about 4.5 nm off-shore the Peruvian coastline (-12.0554667°, -077.2347667°). The aim of the study was to improve our mechanistic understanding of processes controlling plankton
productivity, organic matter export, and particle stoichiometry in the coastal upwelling system off Peru. About 40 days into the study, Inca terns (Larosterna inca) – an abundant sea bird species in the region – discovered the mesocosms as suitable resting places. The birds were able to start and land on the very small areas lacking anti-bird spikes that were installed on the mesocosm roofs. Resting on the flotation frames as well as the opening of the mesocosm bags, they defecated into the enclosed water columns, adding new nutrients to the system. This orni-eutrophication from day 40
to 50 triggered intense phytoplankton blooms in the uppermost part of the enclosures where light
was plentiful. This video illustrates the fertilizing effect of Inca tern defecation on phytoplankton communities during our mesocosm study in the upwelling system off Peru.
[a] Kiel Off-Shore Mesocosms for Ocean Simulations

Document Type: Video
Keywords: Inca tern, Larosterna inca, eutrophication, defecation, phytoplankton bloom, KOSMOS, Peru, upwelling, oxygen minimum zone
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-BI Biological Oceanography
Open Access Journal?: Yes
Publisher: GEOMAR
Related URLs:
Projects: SFB754, AQUACOSM, Leibniz Award 2012
Date Deposited: 07 Oct 2019 08:09
Last Modified: 08 Oct 2019 05:50
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/47864

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