Articles | Volume 23, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-6947-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-6947-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
06 Oct 2026
Research article |
| 06 Oct 2026
| 06 Oct 2026
Towards constraining the drivers of variability and trends in subantarctic productivity
Christopher D. Traill
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Tyler W. Rohr
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Elizabeth H. Shadwick
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Hobart, TAS, Australia
Pearse J. Buchanan
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Hobart, TAS, Australia
Alessandro Tagliabue
Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Andrew R. Bowie
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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Short summary
Southern Ocean phytoplankton are a key part of the carbon cycle, yet year-to-year changes in ocean productivity are poorly understood. Using model simulations, this study shows how deeper mixing in the most productive years increases nutrient supply and changes the predator-prey relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton. This helps explain why satellite productivity estimates disagree, and the reasons for why climate projections might be getting inaccurate estimates of future production.
Southern Ocean phytoplankton are a key part of the carbon cycle, yet year-to-year changes in...
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