• Energy Research

Coastal marine ecosystems, which play a crucial role in the biogeochemical and ecological functioning of the Earth, are highly sensitive to the combined effects of climate and human activities. Because of their location, coastal ecosystems are directly influenced by human activities, but it remains challenging to assess the spatial and temporal scales at which climate influences coastal ecosystems. We monitored 12 sampling stations, distributed in 8 ecosystems in France, over 2 decades for physico-biogeochemical parameters (temperature, salinity, concentrations of dissolved oxygen, nutrients and particulate material). The study encompasses a large diversity of temperate coastal ecosystems with respect to e.g. geomorphology, trophic status, tidal regime, river influence and turbidity. Time-series analysis coupled with standardised 3-mode principal component analyses, partial triadic analyses and correlations were used to assess bi-decadal variability and ecosystem trajectories, and to identify large-scale, regional and local drivers. Our results highlighted 2 abrupt changes in 2001 and 2005. The bi-decadal changes were related to changes in large-scale and regional climate, detected through proxies of temperature and atmospheric circulation, as well as through river discharge. Ecosystem trajectories tended to move towards an increase in temperature and salinity, and/or a decrease in chlorophyll a, nutrients and particulate matter. However, the magnitude of change, the year-to-year variability and the sensitivity to the 2001 and 2005 changes varied among the ecosystems. This study highlights the need for establishing long-term time series and combining data sets as well as undertaking multi-ecosystem and local studies to better understand the long-term variability of coastal ecosystems and its associated drivers.

Owing to their productivity, kelps may be the main primary carbon source for consumers in coastal areas. Their contribution has often been compared to that of phytoplankton, but the potential involvement of the red algae associated with kelp forests has been overlooked. All these 3 primary sources have distinct life cycles and may contribute to the particulate organic matter pool differently according to season. In the present study, we characterised the trophic structure of a pristine Laminaria hyperborea forest off the coast of Brittany (France) in terms of the organic carbon biomass of the main primary producers and consumer trophic groups on 4 sampling dates over a 1 yr period. Senescence of many red algae species occurred during their resting period (i.e. before November), whereas the kelp regrowth period (i.e. before March) was accompanied by the fragmentation of old lamina. During these periods, when phytoplankton biomass is comparable, stable isotope analyses (delta C-13 and delta N-15) were conducted in an attempt to link structure to trophic functioning. By combining analyses of temporal variability in primary source and consumer isotopic ratios and using mixing models, we inferred changes in the trophic significance of macroalgae in the associated food web. Decaying kelp laminae were a major contributor to the particulate organic matter pool, and the fragmentation of old lamina promoted their contribution to the diet of deposit-and suspension-feeders in March. Growth of red algae enhanced direct grazer consumption in March, while their senescence contributed significantly to primary consumer diets in November via indirect consumption.

Worldwide kelp forests have been the focus of several studies concerning ecosystem dysfunction in the past decades. Multifactorial kelp threats have been described and include deforestation due to human impact, cascading effects and climate change. Here, we compared community and trophic structure in two contrasting kelp forests off the coasts of Brittany. One has been harvested five years before sampling and shelters abundant omnivorous predators, almost absent from the other, which has been treated as preserved from kelp harvest. δ15N analyses conducted on the overall communities were linked to the tropho-functional structure of different strata featuring these forests (stipe and holdfast of canopy kelp and rock). Our results yielded site-to-site differences of community and tropho-functional structures across kelp strata, particularly contrasting in terms of biomass on the understorey. Similarly, isotope analyses inferred the top trophic position of Marthasterias glacialis and Echinus esculentus which may be considered as strong interactors in the sub-canopy. We interrogate these patterns and propose a series of probable and testable alternative hypotheses to explain them. For instance, we propose that differences of trophic structure and functioning result from confounded effects of contrasting wave dissipation depending on kelp size-density structure and community cascading involving these omnivorous predators. Given the species diversity and complexity of food web highlighted in these habitats, we call for further comprehensive research about the overall strata and tropho-functional groups for conservation management in kelp forests.