An integrated multiple driver mesocosm experiment reveals the effect of global change on planktonic food web structure
Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science
We conducted a mesocosm experiment with an integrated multiple driver design to assess the impact of future global change scenarios on plankton, a key component of marine food webs. The experimental treatments were based on the RCP 6.0 and 8.5 scenarios developed by the IPCC, which were Extended (ERCP) to integrate the future predicted changing nutrient inputs into coastal waters. The mesocosm experiment was conducted over three weeks in late-summer (August-September) 2018. Seawater containing a natural plankton community was collected from the coastal North Sea. At the onset of the experiment, CO2 saturated seawater was added to the ERCP scenario mesocosms to adjust pCO2 and pH levels for each scenario. To create a realistic environment, we also manipulated the atmospheric pCO2 in the enclosed mesocosm tanks throughout the experiment. Seawater temperature was adjusted daily according to the current North Sea temperature measured at the Helgoland Roads for the Ambient, and 1.5°C and 3.0°C warmer for the ERCP 6.0 and ERCP 8.5 scenarios, respectively. Dissolved nutrient concentrations were determined at the onset of the experiment and adjusted to reach the desired N:P ratios. Samples were taken in an interval of 1-3 days depending on the phytoplankton bloom development, and community composition, except for the large mesozooplankton, was monitored throughout the experiment period.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Phytoflagellate indeterminata, biomass as carbon
Rhizosolenia imbricata, biomass as carbon
Rhizosolenia styliformis, biomass as carbon
Melosira moniliformis, biomass as carbon
Cylindrotheca closterium, biomass as carbon
Diatoms, pennales indeterminata, biomass as carbon
Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima complex, biomass as carbon
Pseudo-nitzschia seriata complex, biomass as carbon
Bacillaria paxillifer, biomass as carbon
Pleurosigma/Gyrosigma, biomass as carbon
Asterionellopsis glacialis, biomass as carbon
Thalassionema nitzschioides, biomass as carbon
Chaetoceros curvisetus, biomass as carbon
Chaetoceros decipiens, biomass as carbon
Leptocylindrus danicus, biomass as carbon
Leptocylindrus minimus, biomass as carbon
Bacteriastrum hyalinum, biomass as carbon
Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii, biomass as carbon
Pyrophacus horologium, biomass as carbon
Protoceratium reticulatum, biomass as carbon
Protoperidinium bipes, biomass as carbon
Protoperidinium ovatum, biomass as carbon
Protoperidinium conicum, biomass as carbon
Phalacroma rotundatum, biomass as carbon
Dinophyceae indeterminata, biomass as carbon
Lohmanniella oviformis, biomass as carbon
Helicostomella subulata, biomass as carbon
Pelagostrobilidium sp., biomass as carbon
Tintinnida indeterminata, biomass as carbon
Scuticociliate indeterminata, biomass as carbon
Ciliophora indeterminata, biomass as carbon