Temperature-Driven Shifts in Seasonal Phytoplankton Succession in the Lower Chesapeake Bay
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Long-term warming trends in the lower Chesapeake Bay have occurred at nearly twice the rate observed in the upper Bay, raising questions about how temperature-driven changes may alter seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. Seasonal succession in estuarine systems typically follows a transition from diatom-dominated communities in cooler months to dinoflagellate-dominated communities as waters warm and stratify. However, it remains unclear whether climate-driven warming is shifting the timing of this transition.
The objective of this study is to determine whether the seasonal transition from diatom-dominated to dinoflagellate-dominated communities is occurring earlier in the year in response to increasing water temperatures.
Using long-term monitoring data from six Chesapeake Bay stations, monthly datasets were organized and cleaned to align diatom and dinoflagellate abundance, percent composition, and water temperature records. Percent-composition plots were generated to visualize seasonal community structure across stations. Ongoing analyses include creating stacked abundance plots and quantifying annual transition dates by identifying when dinoflagellates exceed diatoms in relative abundance.
Preliminary visualizations indicate consistent seasonal succession patterns across stations, with variability in the timing of peak dominance. Further analyses will evaluate whether transition dates are advancing in association with long-term warming trends.
These findings will contribute to understanding how climate-driven changes in stratification and nutrient dynamics may alter phytoplankton succession in estuarine systems, with potential implications for food web structure, harmful algal blooms, and ecosystem productivity in the Chesapeake Bay.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Margaret Mulholland
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
mmulholl@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
SCI OES All
College/School Affiliation
College of Sciences
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Poster
Temperature-Driven Shifts in Seasonal Phytoplankton Succession in the Lower Chesapeake Bay
Long-term warming trends in the lower Chesapeake Bay have occurred at nearly twice the rate observed in the upper Bay, raising questions about how temperature-driven changes may alter seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. Seasonal succession in estuarine systems typically follows a transition from diatom-dominated communities in cooler months to dinoflagellate-dominated communities as waters warm and stratify. However, it remains unclear whether climate-driven warming is shifting the timing of this transition.
The objective of this study is to determine whether the seasonal transition from diatom-dominated to dinoflagellate-dominated communities is occurring earlier in the year in response to increasing water temperatures.
Using long-term monitoring data from six Chesapeake Bay stations, monthly datasets were organized and cleaned to align diatom and dinoflagellate abundance, percent composition, and water temperature records. Percent-composition plots were generated to visualize seasonal community structure across stations. Ongoing analyses include creating stacked abundance plots and quantifying annual transition dates by identifying when dinoflagellates exceed diatoms in relative abundance.
Preliminary visualizations indicate consistent seasonal succession patterns across stations, with variability in the timing of peak dominance. Further analyses will evaluate whether transition dates are advancing in association with long-term warming trends.
These findings will contribute to understanding how climate-driven changes in stratification and nutrient dynamics may alter phytoplankton succession in estuarine systems, with potential implications for food web structure, harmful algal blooms, and ecosystem productivity in the Chesapeake Bay.