Lionel Arteaga

Papers

Total Citations

132

H-Index

About

Lionel Arteaga is a leading biological oceanographer whose research focuses on the drivers of phytoplankton dynamics in the world’s most remote marine ecosystems. His work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of how seasonal cycles and environmental constraints shape primary production in high-latitude oceans, particularly the Southern Ocean. Arteaga’s most influential study, “Seasonal modulation of phytoplankton biomass in the Southern Ocean” (2020, 132 citations), challenges long-held assumptions by demonstrating that annual biomass cycles cannot be predicted solely from factors controlling phytoplankton growth rates, such as nutrient availability. Instead, he reveals the critical role of loss processes—including grazing and viral infection—in governing bloom timing and magnitude. By integrating satellite remote sensing with sparse in situ data, Arteaga has provided a more nuanced, observationally grounded framework for modeling marine carbon uptake. His contributions are essential for predicting how climate change will alter ocean productivity and the global carbon sink, making him a vital voice in contemporary biogeochemical research.