Workflow 5

Workflow 5: Phytoplankton community dynamics across time and space

This workflow analyses spatial and temporal patterns in phytoplankton community structure by combining univariate and multivariate statistical approaches. It computes key community metrics such as total density, species richness, and diversity indices, and assesses their variation across locations, seasons, and spatial scales using analysis-of-variance models . Relationships between phytoplankton metrics and environmental variables are explored through correlation and linear regression analyses. Community composition and similarity are assessed using dissimilarity indices and ordination techniques (e.g. Bray–Curtis dissimilarity and non-metric multidimensional scaling), while Mantel-type tests are used to evaluate environment–community relationships. By integrating community, environmental, and spatial information, the workflow supports the exploration of ecosystem-level patterns and environmental controls on phytoplankton dynamics.