M1.9 Upwelling zones

Biome: M1. Marine shelf biome

Contributors:
(texts)

These productive regions are often associated with eastern-boundary current systems on the transition between marine shelves and the open ocean, forming where divergence of surface water causes upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water. Bursts of primary productivity are associated with naturally variable, often wind-driven upwelling events and support a very high biomass of plankton, fish, and marine birds and mammals. Small species like sardine and anchovy that operate at low trophic levels dominate fish communities, may vary greatly in abundance through time, and play important roles in food webs.

Key Features

Cool, wind-driven systems with high productivity and variability, supporting abundant plankton, fish, mammals and seabirds.

Overview of distribution

Coastal eastern-boundary current systems and some localised areas in open oceans.

Profile versions

• v1.0 (2020-01-20): KE Watermeyer; EJ Gregr; IM Suthers; DA Keith
• v2.0 (2020-06-15): KE Watermeyer; EJ Gregr; RR Rykaczewski; LJ Shannon; IM Suthers; DA Keith
• v2.01 ():
• v2.1 (2022-04-06): KE Watermeyer; EJ Gregr; RR Rykaczewski; LJ Shannon; IM Suthers; DA Keith Full profile available at official site

Main references

Selected references for this functional group:

• Cury P, Shannon L, Shin YJ (2003) The functioning of marine ecosystems: a fisheries perspective Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem (Eds. M Sinclair, G Valdimarsson), p103–123. FAO, Rome, & CABI Publishing, Wallingford

• Hutchings L, Pitcher GC, Probyn TA, Bailey GW (1995) The chemical and biological consequences of coastal upwelling Upwelling in the oceans: Modern Processes and Ancient Records (Eds. CP Summerhayes, KC Emeis, MV Angel, RL Smith, B Zeitzschel), pp. 65–81. John Wiley, New York

Diagrammatic assembly model

Diagrammatic assembly model of M1.9 Upwelling zones. See general notes on diagrams. Open image full size.

Maps

Maps are indicative of global distribution patterns are not intended to represent fine-scale patterns. The maps show areas of the world containing major (coloured red) or minor occurrences (coloured yellow) of each ecosystem functional group. See general notes on maps.

There are 2 alternative versions of the indicative map for this functional group, please compare description and sources below.

M1.9.IM.orig_v1.0

Datasets

• MEOW-2008
• GSFM-2014

Map references

• Spalding MD, Fox HE, Allen GR, Davidson N, Ferdaña ZA, Finlayson M, Halpern BS, Jorge MA, Lombana A, Lourie SA, Martin KD, McManus E, Molnar J, Recchia CA, Robertson J (2007) Marine ecoregions of the world: a bioregionalization of coastal and shelf areas. Bioscience 57: 573–583. DOI:10.1641/B570707

• Harris PT, Macmillan-Lawler M, Rupp J, Baker EK (2014) Geomorphology of the oceans. Marine Geology 352: 4-24. 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011

M1.9.web.orig_v1.0

Marine ecoregions (Spalding et al. 2008) with major and minor occurrences of Upwelling zones were identified by consulting global and regional reviews (cited in descriptive profile), maps of relevant ecosystems and expertise of authors, proofed by specialist reviewers. The identified ecoregions were then clipped to the extent of the marine ‘shelf’ base layer as mapped by Harris et al. (2014b). Occurrences were converted to 30 arc second spatial resolution. Open image full size.

Datasets

• MEOW-2008
• GSFM-2014

Map references

• Spalding MD, Fox HE, Allen GR, Davidson N, Ferdaña ZA, Finlayson M, Halpern BS, Jorge MA, Lombana A, Lourie SA, Martin KD, McManus E, Molnar J, Recchia CA, Robertson J (2007) Marine ecoregions of the world: a bioregionalization of coastal and shelf areas. Bioscience 57: 573–583. DOI:10.1641/B570707

• Harris PT, Macmillan-Lawler M, Rupp J, Baker EK (2014) Geomorphology of the oceans. Marine Geology 352: 4-24. 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011

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