Effects of physical forcing on short-term plankton dynamics in a narrow coral reef lagoon (Ouano, New Caledonia): a two-week high-frequency study

A two-week high-frequency study in the narrow coral reef lagoon of Ouano, New Caledonia, revealed that short-term climatic events—such as wind, waves, and rainfall—significantly alter plankton dynamics at a lagoon scale. These events disrupted typical tidal and diel patterns by increasing nutrient concentrations, leading to rapid growth of microphytoplankton (dominated by diatoms) and opportunistic herbivorous zooplankton (e.g., tintinnids, appendicularians). Unlike larger lagoons where spatial variability dominates, this study demonstrated that physical forcing in channel-like lagoons drives large-scale biological responses, highlighting the sensitivity of these ecosystems to external environmental changes.

Rodier, M., Pagano, M., Lhomond, L., Péricaud, J.-B., Guilloux, L., Devenon, J.-L., & Chevalier, C. (2024). Effects of physical forcing on short-term plankton dynamics in a narrow coral reef lagoon (Ouano, New Caledonia): a two-week high-frequency study. Journal of Plankton Research, 46(2), 202–218. https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbae004