Distribution of transparent exopolymer particles and their response to phytoplankton community structure changes in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica

To understand the response of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) to the changes in phytoplankton communities caused by melting sea ice, we collected samples from the polynya and open ocean affected by the Antarctic circumpolar current in the Amundsen Sea. TEP, pigments, and other environmental factors were analyzed. The results showed that high TEP content was mainly found in the polynya, and was higher in the surface layer than in the deep layer. The main factor that affected TEP distribution was the phytoplankton community. In the polynya area, the phytoplankton were dominated by low-iron Haptophyta. In the Antarctic circumpolar current region affected by ice-melting water, the dominant species was diatom type Ⅱ. Our results revealed that low-iron Haptophyta may be the main contributors to TEP content.