A fundamental focus in ecology is understanding interactions between environmental heterogeneity and ecological community structure, both of which are currently undergoing unprecedented alterations due to global change. In particular, many freshwater phytoplankton communities are experiencing multiple global change stressors, altering phytoplankton community composition, biomass, and spatial distribution. I used multiple approaches to characterize the interactions between spatial distribution and community structure of phytoplankton and quantify uncertainty in predictions of phytoplankton temporal dynamics. First, I analyzed data from 51 lakes to determine the environmental drivers of phytoplankton vertical distributions across the water column for different phytoplankton groups. I show that the relative importance of environmental drivers varies according to the functional traits of each phytoplankton group. Second, I conducted whole-ecosystem experiments in a reservoir to assess phytoplankton responses to surface water mixing events, which may become more prevalent as storms increase under global change. My results demonstrate that aggregated phytoplankton biomass has inconsistent responses to mixing over the short term, but responses of morphology-based functional groups of phytoplankton to mixing are more predictable. Third, I conducted a long-term whole-ecosystem experiment to assess phytoplankton responses to changes in water column thermal gradients which are predicted to increasingly occur under global change. I found that phytoplankton depth distributions responded similarly to thermal gradient disturbance over multiple years, and changes in depth distributions were related to changes in community composition. Fourth, I produced weekly hindcasts of phytoplankton density in a lake for two years to determine the dominant sources of uncertainty in phytoplankton density predictions. I found that better estimation of current phytoplankton density improved representation of error in phytoplankton models, and incorporation of additional life history stages to model structure may improve phytoplankton predictions. Overall, my dissertation chapters demonstrate that the vertical distribution and community structure of phytoplankton are linked, and that the interaction of phytoplankton community structure with environmental heterogeneity is more predictable over longer-term (e.g., months to years) than shorter-term (e.g., days to weeks) scales. My research emphasizes that consideration of phytoplankton community dynamics and the uncertainty associated with phytoplankton predictions are needed for freshwater management under global change. / Doctor of Philosophy / Freshwater phytoplankton, which are microscopic primary producers, are experiencing many environmental changes in lakes and reservoirs due to global change. This includes changes in water temperature, which affects phytoplankton growth and the types of phytoplankton that are present in the water. As a result, phytoplankton communities are changing in ways that affect water quality. For example, phytoplankton may grow rapidly and form blooms which cause unsightly surface scums, clog filters at water treatment plants, or release toxins. My dissertation research uses ecosystem experiments, computer modeling, and large datasets from many lakes to study how the interactions between phytoplankton and their environment might change due to human activities. I found that it is difficult to predict how phytoplankton will respond to changes in water temperature over the short term (days to weeks), but that longer-term (months to years) responses to water temperature changes are more predictable. I also found that the types of phytoplankton present in the water vary across depth in response to light, temperature, and predation. Since the species of phytoplankton that are present determine a waterbody's water quality, my results indicate that water quality can vary substantially among different depths. Finally, I found that the greatest sources of uncertainty in predicting phytoplankton are due to the challenges in accurately measuring the amount of phytoplankton that are present in a lake and representing complex phytoplankton processes in computer models. My research demonstrates that it is important to think about multiple types of phytoplankton and how they interact with the environment, not just the total amount of phytoplankton present, when predicting how water quality will change due to global change. In addition, it is important to consider the uncertainty associated with predictions of phytoplankton when we make decisions about how to manage water quality.

Este trabalho visa avaliar o efeito do movimento vertical da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos máximos subsuperficiais de clorofila (MSC) ao longo da termoclina devido a propagação de ondas internas na porção externa da Plataforma Continental Sudeste do Brasil. A região está sujeita as intrusões da Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS) e a coluna de água permanece estratificada entre a primavera e o verão. Altas concentrações de nutrientes na camada de fundo dominada pela ACAS sustentam a produção nova da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos MSC da base da zona eufótica. Dados hidrográficos e biogeoquímicos tais como temperatura, salinidade, nutrientes, clorofila-a e taxas de fotossíntese foram monitorados durante uma série temporal diurna de 48 horas sobre a isóbata de 100 metros ao largo da Ilha de São Sebastião (SP) em intervalos de 1 hora. Entretanto, apesar da disponibilidade de nutrientes, a produção fotossintética pode ser limitada pela baixa intensidade luminosa nesses níveis. O movimento vertical induzido por ondas eleva o MSC, colocando-o em uma profundidade mais iluminada e podendo aumentar significativamente a produtividade local. Ao contrário do que observado na literatura, a passagem de ondas internas não aumentou a concentração de nutrientes na camada de mistura. Os resultados revelaram que as ondas internas podem aumentar em até 24% a fixação de carbono e, portanto, sugerem que as estimativas de produção primária obtidas até agora na zona eufótica do Embaiamento de Santos devem ser reavaliadas. / The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of the vertical displacement of phytoplankton community in subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) on the primary production due to passage of internal waves at outer portion of Brazilian southwestern continental shelf. The study area is influenced by intrusions of South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) thus allowing the water column to remain stably stratified during spring and summer seasons. The new primary production in the SCM at the base of the euphotic zone is sustained by high nutrient concentration in subthermocline portion of the water column, which is directly influenced by SACW intrusions. Hydrographic and biochemical data such as water temperature, salinity, nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentration, as well as photosynthesis rates, were monitored for roughly 48 hours at the fixed location over the 100 m isobath off Sao Sebastiao Island (Southeastern Brazil Bight). In spite of nutrient availability, photosynthetic production may be limited by low light conditions in subthermocline depths. Vertical displacements driven by internal wave propagation may increase light availability in the SCM, therefore having the potential to raise local productivity. Despite previous reports, no significant nutrient concentration increase in the mixed layer was observed during internal wave propagation. The results point to an increase in up to 30% of carbon fixation due to internal waves\' passage and therefore suggest that previous estimates of primary productivity in the Santos Bight should be reviewed.

Este trabalho visa avaliar o efeito do movimento vertical da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos máximos subsuperficiais de clorofila (MSC) ao longo da termoclina devido a propagação de ondas internas na porção externa da Plataforma Continental Sudeste do Brasil. A região está sujeita as intrusões da Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS) e a coluna de água permanece estratificada entre a primavera e o verão. Altas concentrações de nutrientes na camada de fundo dominada pela ACAS sustentam a produção nova da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos MSC da base da zona eufótica. Dados hidrográficos e biogeoquímicos tais como temperatura, salinidade, nutrientes, clorofila-a e taxas de fotossíntese foram monitorados durante uma série temporal diurna de 48 horas sobre a isóbata de 100 metros ao largo da Ilha de São Sebastião (SP) em intervalos de 1 hora. Entretanto, apesar da disponibilidade de nutrientes, a produção fotossintética pode ser limitada pela baixa intensidade luminosa nesses níveis. O movimento vertical induzido por ondas eleva o MSC, colocando-o em uma profundidade mais iluminada e podendo aumentar significativamente a produtividade local. Ao contrário do que observado na literatura, a passagem de ondas internas não aumentou a concentração de nutrientes na camada de mistura. Os resultados revelaram que as ondas internas podem aumentar em até 24% a fixação de carbono e, portanto, sugerem que as estimativas de produção primária obtidas até agora na zona eufótica do Embaiamento de Santos devem ser reavaliadas. / The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of the vertical displacement of phytoplankton community in subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) on the primary production due to passage of internal waves at outer portion of Brazilian southwestern continental shelf. The study area is influenced by intrusions of South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) thus allowing the water column to remain stably stratified during spring and summer seasons. The new primary production in the SCM at the base of the euphotic zone is sustained by high nutrient concentration in subthermocline portion of the water column, which is directly influenced by SACW intrusions. Hydrographic and biochemical data such as water temperature, salinity, nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentration, as well as photosynthesis rates, were monitored for roughly 48 hours at the fixed location over the 100 m isobath off Sao Sebastiao Island (Southeastern Brazil Bight). In spite of nutrient availability, photosynthetic production may be limited by low light conditions in subthermocline depths. Vertical displacements driven by internal wave propagation may increase light availability in the SCM, therefore having the potential to raise local productivity. Despite previous reports, no significant nutrient concentration increase in the mixed layer was observed during internal wave propagation. The results point to an increase in up to 30% of carbon fixation due to internal waves\' passage and therefore suggest that previous estimates of primary productivity in the Santos Bight should be reviewed.

A dinâmica da matéria orgânica particulada (MOP) nos oceanos, desde sua formação até seu consumo/exportação, é um elo importante no ciclo biogeoquímico do carbono e elementos associados, que ganhou importância nas últimas décadas devido ao aumento do CO2 antropogênico. Para melhorar os modelos e as previsões climáticas, projetos oceanográficos investigam os fatores que influenciam na dinâmica da MOP, sobretudo em regiões produtivas e representativas em escala global. No Atlântico Sul, a região mais produtiva é ao largo do continente africano, devido à contínua ressurgência de borda leste. Entretanto, regiões hidrograficamente dinâmicas também podem contribuir com elevadas taxas de produção dependendo das condições ambientais, cuja importância no reservatório de MOP ainda é desconhecida. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar a dinâmica do MOP em suspensão em duas regiões também produtivas do Atlântico Sudoeste: (i) o setor externo da Margem Continental Sudeste Brasileira (Capítulo 1); e (ii) o setor Austral ao sul de 30ºS (Capítulo 2). São discutidos os efeitos das condições oceanográficas no reservatório de MOP e seus padrões interanuais de distribuição geográfica. / The dynamics of particulate organic matter (POM) in the oceans, from its formation to its consumption/export, is an important link in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and associated elements, which gained importance in the last decades due to increase of anthropogenic CO2. To improve models and climate predictions, oceanographic projects investigate the factors that influence the POM dynamics, especially in productive and representative regions on a global scale. In the South Atlantic, the most productive region is off the African continent, due to permanent Eastern Boundary upwelling. However, dynamic hydrographic regions can also provide with high production rates depending on environmental conditions, whose importance in the POM reservoir is still unknown. This work aims to study the suspended POM dynamics in two productive regions of the southwest Atlantic: (i) the outer Brazilian Southeast Continental Margin (Chapter 1); and (ii) the Austral sector south of 30ºS(Chapter 2). The effects of different oceanographic conditions in the POM reservoir, their interannual pattern and geographic distribution are discussed.

A dinâmica da matéria orgânica particulada (MOP) nos oceanos, desde sua formação até seu consumo/exportação, é um elo importante no ciclo biogeoquímico do carbono e elementos associados, que ganhou importância nas últimas décadas devido ao aumento do CO2 antropogênico. Para melhorar os modelos e as previsões climáticas, projetos oceanográficos investigam os fatores que influenciam na dinâmica da MOP, sobretudo em regiões produtivas e representativas em escala global. No Atlântico Sul, a região mais produtiva é ao largo do continente africano, devido à contínua ressurgência de borda leste. Entretanto, regiões hidrograficamente dinâmicas também podem contribuir com elevadas taxas de produção dependendo das condições ambientais, cuja importância no reservatório de MOP ainda é desconhecida. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar a dinâmica do MOP em suspensão em duas regiões também produtivas do Atlântico Sudoeste: (i) o setor externo da Margem Continental Sudeste Brasileira (Capítulo 1); e (ii) o setor Austral ao sul de 30ºS (Capítulo 2). São discutidos os efeitos das condições oceanográficas no reservatório de MOP e seus padrões interanuais de distribuição geográfica. / The dynamics of particulate organic matter (POM) in the oceans, from its formation to its consumption/export, is an important link in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and associated elements, which gained importance in the last decades due to increase of anthropogenic CO2. To improve models and climate predictions, oceanographic projects investigate the factors that influence the POM dynamics, especially in productive and representative regions on a global scale. In the South Atlantic, the most productive region is off the African continent, due to permanent Eastern Boundary upwelling. However, dynamic hydrographic regions can also provide with high production rates depending on environmental conditions, whose importance in the POM reservoir is still unknown. This work aims to study the suspended POM dynamics in two productive regions of the southwest Atlantic: (i) the outer Brazilian Southeast Continental Margin (Chapter 1); and (ii) the Austral sector south of 30ºS(Chapter 2). The effects of different oceanographic conditions in the POM reservoir, their interannual pattern and geographic distribution are discussed.