The North Sea plankton regime shift in the late 1990s: Comment on Beaugrand et al. (2014)

摘要

Beaugrand et al. (2014; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 502:85-104) reported a regime shift in the North Sea plankton community between 1996 and 2003 as a novel observation. Although they used novel methodology, a shift in the plankton community around 1998 had previously been described by Alvarez-Fernandez et al. (2012; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 462:21-38). Both studies have similar results, but their interpretation differs: Beaugrand et al. (2014) conclude that temperature is the driving force, whereas Alvarez-Fernandez et al. (2012) attribute the regime shift to changes in nutrient dynamics.