Ocean sciences articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Evidence of inverted trophic pyramids in marine food webs has been enigmatic owing to lack of theoretical support. Here, Woodson et al. use metabolic and size-spectra theory to show that inverted pyramids are possible when food webs have generalist predators and consumers with large body sizes.

    • C. Brock Woodson
    • , John R. Schramski
    •  & Samantha B. Joye

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The degree of regional variability in marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export production is poorly constrained on a global scale. Here, the authors combine an artificial neural network and a data-constrained ocean circulation model to show that the efficiency of DOC export varies 3-fold across regions.

    • Saeed Roshan
    •  & Timothy DeVries

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Some bacteria can use inorganic phosphite and hypophosphite as sources of inorganic phosphorus. Here, the authors report crystal structures of the periplasmic proteins that bind these reduced phosphorus species and show that a P-H…π interaction between the ligand and binding site determines their specificity.

    • Claudine Bisson
    • , Nathan B. P. Adams
    •  & Andrew Hitchcock

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The sensitivity of mussel larvae to ocean acidification, particularly during the time of shell formation, remains uncertain. Here, the authors show that larvae can elevate calcium carbonate saturation state beneath their shell to enhance calcification, but this ability is compromised by ocean acidification.

    • Kirti Ramesh
    • , Marian Y. Hu
    •  & Frank Melzner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Strong regional heterogeneity prevents thorough understanding of the recent increase in Antarctic sea ice. Here, analysis of marine and ice cores in the Western Ross Sea shows that late Holocene contrasting sea ice patterns between open and coastal areas are related to katabatic winds and polynya efficiency.

    • K. Mezgec
    • , B. Stenni
    •  & M. Frezzotti

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding foraminifera mineralisation pathways is essential to correctly decipher the geochemical climate signals recorded in their shells. Here, the authors identify a non-classical crystallization pathway via metastable phases for Orbulina universa and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei.

    • D. E. Jacob
    • , R. Wirth
    •  & S. M. Eggins

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In the eastern equatorial Pacific, upwelling supplies nitrate in excess of iron relative to phytoplankton requirements. Here, using nitrate isotopes, the authors show that iron recycling in surface waters supports nitrate consumption, lowering surface nitrate concentration and explaining its variation.

    • Patrick A. Rafter
    • , Daniel M. Sigman
    •  & Katherine R. M. Mackey

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Global maps of biogeographic realms help to understand the geological and ecological processes that gave rise to species distributions, yet a marine realm map has been lacking. Here, Costello et al. use a database of over 65,000 species to reveal 30 marine biogeographic realms and high rates of species endemicity.

    • Mark J. Costello
    • , Peter Tsai
    •  & Chhaya Chaudhary

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Reverse weathering reactions on or in the seafloor are a major sink of many elements and alkalinity in seawater. Here, the authors show how reduced rates of reverse weathering may be responsible for global cooling and increased seawater Mg/Ca over the past 50 million years.

    • Ann G. Dunlea
    • , Richard W. Murray
    •  & John A. Higgins

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Elevated temperatures can cause anemones to bleach, with unknown effects on their associated symbiotic fish. Here, Beldade and colleagues show that climate-induced bleaching alters anemonefish hormonal stress response, resulting in decreased reproductive hormones and severely impacted reproduction.

    • Ricardo Beldade
    • , Agathe Blandin
    •  & Suzanne C. Mills

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Antarctic sea ice extent continues to increase, with autumn sea ice advances in the western Ross Sea particularly anomalous. Here, based on analysis of independent datasets, the authors show that springtime zonal winds in the high latitude South Pacific drive western Ross Sea autumn sea ice conditions.

    • Marika M. Holland
    • , Laura Landrum
    •  & Sharon Stammerjohn

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The Ediacaran–Cambrian oxygenation of seawater is thought to have been caused by lifeforms engaging in ecosystem engineering. Here, the authors show that siliceous sponges increased seawater dissolved oxygen concentrations by redistributing organic carbon oxidation through filtering suspended organic matter.

    • Michael Tatzel
    • , Friedhelm von Blanckenburg
    •  & Dorothee Hippler

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The evolution of oceanic redox state in the past is poorly known. Here, the authors present a temporal record of banded iron formations and marine red beds, which indicate deep-ocean oxygenation occurred in the middle Ediacaran, coinciding with the onset of widespread marine red beds.

    • Haijun Song
    • , Ganqing Jiang
    •  & Chengshan Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The potential contribution of redox reactions to acidification in coastal waters is unclear. Here, using measurements from the Chesapeake Bay, the authors show that pH minimum occurs at mid-depths where acids are produced via hydrogen sulfide oxidation in waters mixed upward from anoxic depths.

    • Wei-Jun Cai
    • , Wei-Jen Huang
    •  & W. Michael Kemp

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The mechanisms responsible for the overall expansion of Antarctic sea-ice in recent decades remain unclear. Here, using observations and model results, the authors show that ice-ocean feedbacks, triggered by an external perturbation, could be responsible for changes in sea-ice extent observed in the Ross Sea.

    • Olivier Lecomte
    • , Hugues Goosse
    •  & Violette Zunz

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The extent to which the ocean acts as a sink and source of airborne particles to the atmosphere is unresolved. Here, the authors report high microbial loads over the tropical Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and propose islands as stepping stones for the transoceanic transport of terrestrial microbes..

    • Eva Mayol
    • , Jesús M. Arrieta
    •  & Carlos M. Duarte

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Deep waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans upwell in the Southern Oceanbut the exact pathways are not fully characterized. Here the authors present a three dimensional view showing a spiralling southward path, with enhanced upwelling by eddy-transport at topographic hotspots.

    • Veronica Tamsitt
    • , Henri F. Drake
    •  & Wilbert Weijer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The reason some of the Earth’s tidewater glaciers are advancing despite increasing temperatures is not entirely clear. Here, using a numerical model that simulates both ice and sediment dynamics, the authors show that internal dynamics drive glacier variability independent of climate.

    • Douglas Brinkerhoff
    • , Martin Truffer
    •  & Andy Aschwanden

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The Tasman Sea experienced an unprecedented marine heatwave in 2015/16, with important ecological impacts. Oliveret al. link this event to warm, southwards flowing waters from East Australia and find that climate change has made these events almost seven times more likely.

    • Eric C. J. Oliver
    • , Jessica A. Benthuysen
    •  & Sarah E. Perkins-Kirkpatrick

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Establishing the efficiency of the biological carbon pump is needed to constrain the impact of ocean circulation on the carbon cycle. Here, the authors compile a global array of ocean–atmosphere radiocarbon disequilibrium estimates and evaluate the strength of the carbon pump over the last glacial maximum.

    • L. C. Skinner
    • , F. Primeau
    •  & A. E. Scrivner

  • Editorial
    | Open Access

    Amid increasingly extreme projections for future sea-level rise, concerns are mounting that policymakers are struggling to keep abreast of fast-paced scientific developments. To ease this burden and increase the accessibility of published research, we have compiled an editor-curated collection of the most recent sea-level rise articles published at Nature Communications.

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The effectiveness of marine reserves relies on whether they supply substantial recruitment outside their boundaries. Here, Andrello and colleagues use models of larval fish dispersal to show that countries most dependent on coastal fisheries receive the lowest larval supplies from marine reserves.

    • Marco Andrello
    • , François Guilhaumon
    •  & David Mouillot

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Evolution of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation through the Holocene remains uncertain. Here, via fully coupled model simulations, the authors show that increased Saharan vegetation and reduced dust emissions 6 kyr BP significantly affect ENSO variability through changes in the West African Monsoon strength.

    • Francesco S. R. Pausata
    • , Qiong Zhang
    •  & Zhengyu Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Uncertainties in contemporary extreme sea levels (ESL) from mean sea level rise (SLR) projections have been overlooked in broad-scale risk and adaptation studies. Here, the authors quantify the uncertainties in present-day global ESL estimates and find that they exceed those from global SLR projections.

    • T. Wahl
    • , I. D. Haigh
    •  & A. B. A. Slangen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The degree to which ocean heat is imprinted on the atmosphere and can be used to predict climate remains unclear. Here, the authors demonstrate skillful observation-based prediction of northwestern European and Arctic climate from upstream sea surface temperature anomalies in the subpolar North Atlantic.

    • Marius Årthun
    • , Tor Eldevik
    •  & Noel S. Keenlyside

  • Article
    | Open Access

    El Niño events in the Central Pacific may be changing due to climate change, but long records to support this are lacking. Here, the authors present sea surface temperature reconstructions from tree cellulose for the last 800 years which suggest the variability of Central Pacific El Niño events has increased.

    • Yu Liu
    • , Kim M. Cobb
    •  & Hans W. Linderholm

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The influence iron exerts over the acquisition of dissolved organic phosphorus in regions of the oceans co-limited by nitrogen and phosphorus is poorly constrained. Here, the authors demonstrate enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity of natural marine microbial communities following iron fertilization.

    • T. J. Browning
    • , E. P. Achterberg
    •  & C. M. Moore

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The degree to which the diurnal light/dark cycle influences Mg-heterogeneity in foraminifera with complex shell morphologies remains unknown. Here, using highly spatially resolved analytical techniques, the authors investigate Mg-banding and calcification in isotope-labelledNeogloboquadrina dutertreispecimens.

    • Jennifer S. Fehrenbacher
    • , Ann D. Russell
    •  & Pamela Martin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The degree to which horizontal transport affects phytoplankton ecosystems remains understudied. Here, the authors combine satellite observations, ARGO float data and a simple ecosystem model to explore the impact of horizontal stirring on naturally-stimulated fine-scale phytoplankton blooms.

    • Yoav Lehahn
    • , Ilan Koren
    •  & Emmanuel Boss

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The downward transfer of organic carbon from the surface to the deep ocean is increased in oxygen minimum zones relative to oxic waters. Here, the authors show reduced interactions of zooplankton with sinking particles owing to low oxygen are likely the primary reason for the observed high transfer of carbon.

    • E. L. Cavan
    • , M. Trimmer
    •  & R. Sanders

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Biennial variability has intensified in the Pacific in recent decades, but the cause of this increase is not fully understood. Here, with statistical analyses and numerical experiments, the authors show that an Atlantic capacitor effect has given rise to this enhanced biennial variability since the early 1990s.

    • Lei Wang
    • , Jin-Yi Yu
    •  & Houk Paek

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Climate change is expected to alter ocean ecology, and to potentially impact the ecosystem services provided to humankind. Here, the authors address how rapidly multiple factors that affect marine ecosystems are likely to develop in the future ocean and the remedial effects climate mitigation might have.

    • Stephanie A. Henson
    • , Claudie Beaulieu
    •  & Jorge L. Sarmiento

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Turbulent mixing next to rough topographic features is believed to be key in the closure of the abyssal ocean circulation. Here, using Southern Ocean data, the authors show that mixing hotspots trap fluid and mix it for long periods, explaining the global impact of relatively few mixing hotspots.

    • A. Mashayek
    • , R. Ferrari
    •  & A. Naveira Garabato

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Pine Island Glacier terminates in a rapidly melting ice shelf and ocean conditions are believed to influence its contribution to sea level rise. Here, the authors show that variability in these ocean conditions is driven by a combination of changes in ocean circulation and local surface heat fluxes.

    • Benjamin G. M. Webber
    • , Karen J. Heywood
    •  & Tae Wan Kim

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Concerns on climate change include the risk of abrupt cooling in the North Atlantic. Here, the authors analyse CMIP5 projections and show that a convection collapse in the subpolar gyre can cool this region by up to 3°C in 10 years, which is as likely to occur by 2100 as a continuous warming.

    • Giovanni Sgubin
    • , Didier Swingedouw
    •  & Amine Bennabi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    ENSO end members El Niño and La Niña are linked to elevated coastal hazards across the Pacific region. Here, the authors show that the wave conditions and coastal response for the 2015–16 El Niño indicate that it was one of the most significant events of the last 145 years.

    • Patrick L. Barnard
    • , Daniel Hoover
    •  & Katherine A. Serafin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Coral-associated microbes could enhance the capacity of their host organism to respond to environmental change. Ziegler and colleagues use a reciprocal transplant experiment to show that microbiomes of heat-tolerant corals are more resilient to change than those of heat-sensitive corals.

    • Maren Ziegler
    • , Francois O. Seneca
    •  & Christian R. Voolstra

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Marine plankton are the basis of the oceanic food chain. Here, Chivers and colleagues use ocean-basin wide plankton population data over six decades to show huge differences in the response of different plankton groups to climate change with major implications for the marine ecosystem and fisheries.

    • William J. Chivers
    • , Anthony W. Walne
    •  & Graeme C. Hays

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Glacial runoff often has relatively low dissolved silica concentrations and therefore ice sheets have been thought insignificant in the global silicon cycle. Here, the authors show that ice sheets likely play an important role in the production and export of dissolved and dissolvable amorphous silica downstream.

    • Jon R. Hawkings
    • , Jemma L. Wadham
    •  & Rob Raiswell

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Potential age model problems with marine Δ14C records have obscured our understanding of the role of the deep-ocean in deglacial atmospheric CO2rise. Here, the authors show that deglacial ventilation of EEP thermocline and deep waters occurred synchronously and was coeval with changes in Atlantic records.

    • Natalie E. Umling
    •  & Robert C. Thunell

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