Abstracts
SEARCH Open Science Meeting
October 27, 2003
Seattle, Washington, USA
Arctic Marine Ecosystems on Thin Ice: Climatic Influence on Energy Flow and Trophic Structure in the Norwegian Arctic
Michael L. Carroll1, Else Nøst Hegseth2, Stig Falk-Petersen3, Haakon Hop4
1Akvaplan-niva, Polar Environmental Center, Tromsø, N-9296, Norway, Phone 477-775-0318, Fax 477-775-0301, mcarroll@akvaplan.niva.no
2Norwegian College of Fisheries Science, University of Tromsø, Breivika, Tromsø, N-9296, Norway, Phone 477-746-4523, Fax 477-764-6020, elseh@nfh.uit.no
3Research Department, Norwegian Polar Institute, Polarmiljøsenteret, Tromsø, N-9296, Norway, Phone 477-775-0532, Fax 477-775-0501, stig@npolar.no
4Research Department, Norwegian Polar Institute, Polarmiljøsenteret, Tromsø, N-9296, Norway, Phone 477-775-0522, Fax 477-7750501, haakon@npolar.no
Measurements have shown that sea ice in the Arctic has substantially decreased in the past three decades, and models indicate continued trends toward further decreases are likely in the decades to come. Sea ice mediates many of the physical, chemical, and biological processes of Arctic marine ecosystems, especially on the shelves where benthic and pelagic systems are extensively coupled. As a result, variations in sea ice can have profound impacts on trophic structure and energy flow.
In a field campaign focused on the northern Svalbard shelf that commenced in spring 2003, we aim to test the hypothesis that changing ice conditions associated with different climatic regimes drives primary production through different carbon sources (ice algae vs. phytoplankton). We propose that such variation in the dominant source pathways of primary production has concomitant effects to both the pelagic and benthic systems, as well as to coupled benthic-pelagic trophic pathways.
The field campaign, combined with laboratory analyses shall test a series of working hypotheses related to the primary producers, zooplankton, and benthic components. We will compare systems influenced predominantly by different water masses, i.e. Atlantic water (warm scenario) vs. Arctic water (cold scenario) and we will assess temporal aspects by sampling in different seasons and in different years. Ultimately, this study aims to provide insight into the energetic pathways and trophic structure of this ecosystem and its stability versus sensitivity in the face of predicted future climate changes.
Abstract Categories: Changes in the Sea
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