Freshwater benthic diatoms from the south-western part of the Hornsund fiord area, SW Spitsbergen

The epipelic diatoms from various water bodies from the south-western part of the Hornsund fiord area are presented. Altogether, 157 taxa (127 species together with their variants and forms) have been identified. The flora consists almost entirely of diatoms from the order Pennales which is represented predominantly Biraphidineae, chiefly by the genera Navicula, Pinnularia and Cymbella. Also some information about the ecology and phytogeography of the diatom flora analysed is given. Most of the species are typical indifferent or alkaliphilous freshwater forms with low trophic requirements. Nearly 55% of the diatoms examined are arctic-alpine or nordic-alpine species.     

The Hydromedusae and its distribution in Chukchi Sea and adjacent southern edge waters of Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean

The present paper is based on materials collected in Chukchi Sea and adjacent southern edge waters of Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean during the period from July to August 1999 on the icebreaker, the R/V "Xuelong", by the Chinese First Arctic Scientific Expedition. Totally, 8 species of pelagic Hydromedusae were identified, of which 4 species belonged to Anthomedusae, 2 species to Leptomedusae, 1 species to Trachymedusae and 1 species to Narcomedusae, the Neoturris breviconis is recorded for the first time in Chukchi Sea. Their principal morphological characteristics are described and illustrated. The 8 species of Hydromedusae occurring in the Chukchi Sea were all cold water species, of which 6 species belong to neritic species and 2 species to ocean species. According to the geographic distribution of species, they may be divided into three groups: Arctic species, Arctic-boreal species and Boreal-temperate species. From the view-point of zoogeography, species from these waters belong to the Arctic fauna.The abundance of Hydromedusae in Chukchi Sea was generally low, with a mean value of 108 ind.·10 -2·m -3. Rathkea octopunctata and Aglantha digitale were dominant species. From the view-point of vertical distribution Aglantha digitale is inhabiting in the depth of 0 300 m and with the maximum in the depth of 50 m to 100 m.     

Report on species of Gyrodactylus Nordmann, 1832, distribution in polar regions

The aim of this study was to compare the Gyrodactylus fauna in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Fish were collected from waters surrounding the South Shetland Islands in the Antarctic and from the Revelva River and Hornsund Fjord in south Spitsbergen in the Arctic. Eighty-two individual fish representing seven species from three families (Channichthyidae, Harpagiferidae, and Nototheniidae) were found in Antarctica and 2 Gyrodactylus infections with altogether 95 specimens were reported. Two new species were identified: Gyrodactylus sp. 1 Rokicka et al., 2009, from the gills of the black rock cod, Notothenia coriiceps Richardson, 1844, and Gyrodactylus sp. 2 Rokicka et al., 2009, from the gills of the gaudy notothen, Lepidonotothen nudifrons Lönnberg, 1905. No Gyrodactylus were found in the 95 Arctic fish examined, which represented four species from four families (Salmonidae, Gadidae, Cottidae, and Liparidae).     

A reference typology of low alkalinity lakes in the UK based on pre-acidification diatom assemblages from lake sediment cores

This paper has two aims: (1) to show for the first time how a natural typology can be established using palaeoecological methods; and (2) to show how it can be used in lake restoration studies with respect to the definition of recovery targets for acidified lakes. By defining the characteristic reference assemblages for low alkalinity site types rather than for a specific site it allows success to be measured more broadly, unconstrained by the specific composition of the pre-acidification flora. We analyse statistically the pre-acidification diatom assemblages of sediment cores from 121 low alkalinity lakes in the UK in order to assess whether a reference typology for such lakes can be defined on the basis of their diatom floras. We use samples dating to ~1850 AD to represent pre-acidification conditions. The results show that three main clusters can be identified, two dominated by benthic taxa (Clusters 1 and 3) and one dominated by planktonic taxa (Cluster 2). Cluster 1 is characterised by taxa such as Brachysira vitrea, Cymbella microcephala and Fragilaria spp., Cluster 2 by Cyclotella comensis, C. radiosa, Asterionella formosa, Aulacoseira subarctica and Achnanthes minutissima and Cluster 3 by Eunotia incisa, Frustulia rhomboides var. saxonica, Fragilaria virescens var. exigua, and Cymbella perpusilla. Although environmental data for 1850 AD are not available it is apparent from the contemporary distribution of the taxa in the different clusters that Cluster 2 represents the most alkaline pre-acidification conditions. Some sites in this cluster have been acidified, but some, especially the larger, deeper lakes have been enriched. Cluster 1 includes sites that contain diatoms with relatively high pH optima (pH 6.4–7.4) whereas Cluster 3 sites contain diatoms with the lowest pre-acidification pH conditions in the data-set. Sites in this cluster also have the lowest base cation concentrations at the present day and include the sites in the UK that have been most affected by acid deposition.     

Marine birds of the Hell Gate Polynya, Nunavut, Canada

The importance of the Hell Gate Polynya to marine birds in High Arctic Canada has not been assessed for two decades. Our breeding season surveys in 2002–04 found 19 species of marine birds using the polynya, in annual numbers perhaps reaching 25000 individuals. The site appears to support nationally significant populations of northern fulmar ( Fulmarus glacialis ), Thayer's gull ( Larus thayeri ) and High Arctic brant ( Branta bernida hrota ), as well as locally important numbers of other species including common eiders ( Somateria mollissima borealis ) and black guillemots ( Cepphus grylle ). The polynya may be particularly important for migration, as many species are observed here earlier than elsewhere in the High Arctic.     

楚科奇海的水螅水母类及其分布

本文报道 1 999年 7月至 8月我国首次北极科学考察期间“雪龙”号破冰船在楚科奇海采集的浮游水螅水母类及其分布。分析鉴定了 8种水螅水母 ,其中 4种属于花水母目 ,2种属于软水母目 ,1种属于硬水母目 ,1种属于筐水母目。短新塔水母在楚科奇海是首次记录。简要记述了这些种类的形态特征并附图。楚科奇海这 8种水螅水母都是冷水种 ,其中 6种为近岸性的 ,2种是大洋性的。根据其地理分布可分为北极种、北极 -北方种和北方寒温带种等 3个类型 ,从动物地理观点看 ,楚科奇海的水螅水母类应属于北极区系。楚科奇海水螅水母类的丰度一般较低 ,其平均丰度为 1 0 8个 /1 0 0 m3,水平分布状况主要由优势种所左右 ,八斑腕唇水母和指腺华丽水母为优势种。垂直分层采样结果表明 ,指腺华丽水母分布于 0～ 30 0 m,其中以 50～ 1 0 0 m居多     

北冰洋加拿大海盆南缘的管水母类及其分布

本文分析了 1 999年夏季我国首次北极科学考察楚科奇海及邻近的北冰洋加拿大海盆南缘海域管水母类的种类组成、丰度和垂直分布。仅在加拿大海盆南缘出现 2种管水母 ,而楚科奇海未发现管水母类。对柔弱五角水母和北极单板水母多营养体期 (无性 )和单营养体期 (有性 )的主要形态特征作了较完整的记述和作图 ,并讨论了它们的形态类型及生态习性。加拿大海盆南缘海域北极单板水母的丰度 (平均 42× 1 0 - 3 个 m3 )大于柔弱五角水母 (2 4× 1 0 - 3 个 m3 )。这 2种管水母均仅出现在水深 1 0 0～ 80 0m ,而且最大丰度也都在 3 0 0— 2 0 0m层 ,即刚好聚集于强盐度跃层中和跃层下面     

Marine birds breeding in Penny Strait and Queens Channel, Nunavut, Canada

Surveys of breeding birds on small islands in Penny Strait and Queens Channel, Nunavut Territory, Canada, were conducted in July 2002 and 2003. Approximately 3600 marine birds were observed, with the most common species being Arctic terns ( Sterna paradisaea , N=2400) and common eiders ( Somateria mollissima borealis , N=620). We observed no Ross's gulls ( Rhodostethia rosed ) in either year, and we found ivory gulls ( Pagophila eburned ) only in 2003, even though these species commonly bred here in the 1970s. This previously unsurveyed region supports numerous breeding marine birds, but reproductive success on these small islands may be dependent on annual ice conditions and consequent movements of Arctic foxes ( Alopex lagopus ).     

Propagation of native Arctic and alpine species with a restoration potential

Arctic and alpine plant communities today are subject to an increasing frequency and intensity of anthropogenic disturbances. Good understanding of reproductive behaviour and regenerative capacity of native species is important in a restoration situation following human disturbance in Arctic and alpine vegetation. Seeds, bulbils or cuttings from 12 native Arctic and alpine species were collected from Longyearbyen in Svalbard and Dovre Mountain on the Norwegian mainland. Propagation ability was tested in greenhouse conditions. Seeds of Papaver dahlianum, Oxyria digyna, Luzula arcuata ssp. confusa , and bulbils of Bistorta vivipara all had more than 50% germination. Dryas octopetala had less than 10% germination. Both quick and slow germinators were identified among the tested species. Seed storage temperature (+4 °C, −1 °C and −20 °C) showed no overall effect on germination. The rooting capacity of cuttings from evergreen and deciduous species was tested. Arctostaphylos uvaursi, Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Salix herbacea and S. polaris had more than 70% rooting ability, while Dryas octopetala and Cassiope tetragona had less than 10%. Saxifraga oppositifolia showed large variation in rooting ability, ranging from 20-90%. The species with high germination and rooting ability are used in an extended restoration experiment in the study areas.     

北极头足类种类组成及分布研究进展

头足类种类众多,分布范围广,是世界上最具开发潜力的海洋生物类群之一,近年来,北极海域渔业资源开发得到了世界各国的重视。据统计,头足类在北极海域共14科26属约43种,分别隶属于乌贼目、八腕目和枪形目,主要种类为僧头乌贼(Rossia palpebrosa)、莫氏僧头乌贼(Rossia moelleri)、深海多足蛸(Bathypolypus arcticus)、深海蛸(Benthoctopus piscatorum)、西伯利亚深海蛸(Benthoctopus sibiricus)、须蛸(Cirroteuthis muelleri)和黵乌贼(Gonatus fabricii),北极大部分头足类都是通过探捕、兼捕或者从其他动物胃含物中获得,大部分分布在格陵兰海、挪威海和巴伦支海等海域。黵乌贼资源丰度为最高,但目前均没有商业性开发。本综述系统收集了分布在北极的头足类种类及其有关资料,为北极头足类资源合理开发及研究北极海域生态系统提供了基础资料。     

The marine ecosystem of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

Kongsfjorden is a glacial fjord in the Arctic (Svalbard) that is influenced by both Atlantic and Arctic water masses and harbours a mixture of boreal and Arctic flora and fauna. Inputs from large tidal glaciers create steep environmental gradients in sedimentation and salinity along the length of this fjord. The glacial inputs cause reduced biomass and diversity in the benthic community in the inner fjord. Zooplankton suffers direct mortality from the glacial outflow and primary production is reduced because of limited light levels in the turbid, mixed inner waters. The magnitude of the glacial effects diminishes towards the outer fjord. Kongsfjorden is an important feeding ground for marine mammals and seabirds. Even though the fjord contains some boreal fauna, the prey consumed by upper trophic levels is mainly Arctic organisms. Marine mammals constitute the largest top-predator biomass, but seabirds have the largest energy intake and also export nutrients and energy out of the marine environment. Kongsfjorden has received a lot of research attention in the recent past. The current interest in the fjord is primarily based on the fact that Kongsfjorden is particularly suitable as a site for exploring the impacts of possible climate changes, with Atlantic water influx and melting of tidal glaciers both being linked to climate variability. The pelagic ecosystem is likely to be most sensitive to the Atlantic versus Arctic influence, whereas the benthic ecosystem is more affected by long-term changes in hydrography as well as changes in glacial runoff and sedimentation. Kongsfjorden will be an important Arctic monitoring site over the coming decades and a review of the current knowledge, and a gap analysis, are therefore warranted. Important knowledge gaps include a lack of quantitative data on production, abundance of key prey species, and the role of advection on the biological communities in the fjord.     

Photosynthesis and respiration of some marine benthic algae from Spitsbergen

Light-photosynthesis curves for 9 species of benthic algae from the Hornsund fiord were determined. As a result of adaptation to the conditions in the Arctic, benthic algae from Spitsbergen have a low requirement of light. Saturation and compensation points are low and within a range typical for shadow-tolerant plants.The values for gas exchange rates indicate that Arctic algae have lower photosynthctic capacity than temperate species.     

北极大气中汞亏损与海冰演变

近年来的观测结果显示北极对流层臭氧发生亏损的同时 ,大气中的气态汞浓度也急剧下降。这种现象的发生被认为是大气中活性卤素物种的增多而引起的。活性的卤素物种例如Br/Cl与臭氧作用 ,一方面导致臭氧亏损 ,同时 ,生成BrO/ClO氧化大气中的Hg0 ,使Hg0 转化为活性汞 (RGM)而沉降。北极地区大气中活性卤素物种主要来自海洋大型藻类释放的卤代烃分解和海盐的贡献。在过去的几十年里 ,随气候变暖 ,北极海冰变薄 ,面积减少 ,海洋排放的活性卤素物种浓度增加 ,从而使北极地区大气中的汞沉降通量增加 ,加剧了北极生物圈中的汞污染。由于北极海冰减少变薄趋势还在持续 ,因此 ,北极大气中汞亏损引起的沉降通量增加对生态圈的影响应该引起广泛重视。本文在综述这方面研究的最新进展基础上 ,提出了今后的研究方向。     

Horizontal distribution of calanoid copepods in the western Arctic Ocean during the summer of 2008

The horizontal distribution of the epipelagic zooplankton communities in the western Arctic Ocean was studied during August–October 2008. Zooplankton abundance and biomass were higher in the Chukchi Sea, and ranged from 3,000 to 274,000 ind. m^?2 and 5–678 g WM m^?2, respectively. Copepods were the most dominant taxa and comprised 37?94% of zooplankton abundance. For calanoid copepods, 30 species belonging to 20 genera were identified. Based on the copepod abundance, their communities were classified into three groups using a cluster analysis. The horizontal distribution of each group was well synchronized with depth zones, defined here as Shelf, Slope and Basin. Neritic Pacific copepods were the dominant species in the Shelf zone. Arctic copepods were substantially greater in the Slope zone than the other regions. Mesopelagic copepods were greater in the Basin zone than the other regions. Stage compositions of large-sized Arctic copepods (Calanus glacialis and Metridia longa) were characterized by the dominance of late copepodid stages in the Basin. Both the abundance and stage compositions of large copepods corresponded well with Chl. a concentrations in each region, with high Chl. a in the Shelf and Slope supporting reproduction of copepods resulting in high abundance dominated by early copepodid stages.     

Fifty years of meteo-glaciological change in Toll Glacier,Bennett Island,De Long Islands,Siberian Arctic

Rapid environmental change has been observed in the De Long Islands, Siberian Arctic, where warming has extensively occurred over the area. To quantitatively evaluate glaciological changes since the 1980s, the climate, mass balance, and the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of Toll Glacier on Bennett Island were analyzed. Air temperature has increased and solid precipitation has decreased since the 1960s, especially after 2000. The cumulative mass balance of Toll Glacier has had a negative trend since the 1960s and reached approximately −20 m water equivalent (w.e.) in 2000, which is one of the largest changes in the Arctic. These changes are much larger than those in the west Russian Arctic. The warming trend is also correlated with the sea ice distribution in the Siberian Arctic and may lead to feedback effects that cause further Arctic warming.     

A comparison of climate changes between Arctic and China in the last 600 years

A compilation of paleoclimate records from lake sediments, trees, ice cores, and historical documents provide a view of China and Arctic environmental changes in the last 600 years. Many of these changes have also been identified in sedimentary and geochemical signatures in deep-sea sediment cores from the North Atlantic Ocean, Arctic and Greenland and ice cores from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, confirming the linkage of environmental changes of different time scales between the Arctic and China. It is shown that the changes of precipitation, temperature and sea ice cover in Arctic were correlated with climate changes in China. This paper also developed a comparative research on the climate changes between Arctic and China both during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and the instrumental observation period. Cycles and trend of temperature variations during LIA and temperature and precipitation during the instrumental observation period are performed. We found some similarities and differences of environmental changes between Arctic and China.     

Responses of Fragilarioid-dominated diatom assemblages in a small Arctic lake to Holocene climatic changes, Russell Island, Nunavut, Canada

We present a paleolimnological record spanning the Holocene from a small lake on Russell Island (Lake PW02), in the central Canadian Arctic Archipelago (74.07° N, 97.77° W, 182 m asl). Fragilarioid diatom types in the genera Pseudostaurosira, Staurosira and Staurosirella constitute >90% of valves in fossil samples. Using modern biogeographic data which specify the temperature optima of the Fragilarioid diatom taxa, we present new inferences about the timing of paleoclimatic changes in the central Arctic islands. The early Holocene was characterized by maximum values for sediment organic matter, and lower ratios of Staurosirella pinnata to Staurosira construens v. venter, suggesting warm summer air temperatures between about 9500−6500 cal year BP. Influxes of biogenic silica and diatom valves decreased following 4000 cal year BP, the sediment accumulation rate slowed and diatom taxa of the littoral zone diversified, suggesting cooler summers and more persistent lake ice. Variations in the species composition of the assemblages indicate paleoclimatic changes that are in broad agreement with other paleoenvironmental records from the Arctic including melt records from the Agassiz Ice Cap. Although autecological data remain incomplete for Fragilarioid taxa, our results indicate differences in these taxa in responses to paleoenvironmental change and underline the potential for the increased use of these taxa in paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The record from Lake PW02, as in other records from Arctic lakes with low algal diversity throughout the Holocene, shows a pronounced increase in diatom diversity since the 1920s, and diatom production since the 1970s far exceeds any recorded during the Holocene.     

近600年来北极与中国气候变化的对比

A compilation of paleoclimate records from lake sediments, trees, ice cores, and historical documents provide a view of China and Arctic environmental changes in the last 600 years. Many of these changes have also been identified in sedimentary and geochemical signatures in deep-sea sediment cores from the North Atlantic Ocean, Arctic and Greenland and ice cores from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, confirming the linkage of environmental changes of different time scales between the Arctic and China. It is shown that the changes of precipitation, temperature and sea ice cover in Arctic were correlated with climate changes in China. This paper also developed a comparative research on the climate changes between Arctic and China both during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and the instrumental observation period. Cycles and trend of temperature variations during LIA and temperature and precipitation during the instrumental observation period are performed. We found some similarities and differences of environmental changes between Arctic and China.