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Research theme 5: Influence of temperature on summer phytoplankton communities and mussels in Tjärnö Bay

The increase of temperature due to climate change has raised concern about communities of organisms in the marine environment. Two of these communities, phytoplankton and mussels, are particularly important for Tjarnö bay. Indeed phytoplankton is at the origin of the food web, is vital for the mussels’ development and can also be the cause of harmful algae blooms affecting both tourism and recreational fishing in this area. Our project focuses on the impact of temperature changes on summer phytoplankton communities in Tjärnö Bay, and potential knock-on effect on the filter-feeding mussel Mytilus edulis. We will sample water from 3 locations in 3 replicates: in the bay at the end of the Fjord, in the middle of the islands and outside the bay. Salinity, chlorophyll a content, pH, light intensity, phytoplankton abundance and biomass, nutrients will be measured and analyzed with a PCA to determine the important factors driving differences in abiotic conditions and phytoplankton dynamics in the bay. Part of the water and phytoplankton sampled will be placed in aquarium in order to place them under different temperature (18°C, ambient, +5°C). The experiments will take place over two and a half days at the end of which we will measure again biomass and abundance. Mussels will then be added to the aquariums to record if the change in community has an effect on them. Our results will allow us to better understand what climate change could have as an effect in Tjarnö bay and better anticipate the growing of certain phytoplankton communities whose some might be toxic for marine organisms and humans. It will also give indications on the behaviour of mussels facing these changes and maybe how their distribution could change in the coming years.

Contributors:


  • Virginie Sonnet 
  • Lea Happel 
  • Apolline Samin 
  • Flavia Bollaro 
  • Loïc Van Audenhaege

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