Three-year assessment of particulate organic carbon fluxes in Amundsen Gulf (Beaufort Sea): Satellite observations and sediment trap measurements

Surface concentrations and vertical fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) were assessed in the Amundsen Gulf (southeastern Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean) over the years 2004 to 2006 by using ocean color remote-sensing imagery and sequential sediment traps moored over the ca. 400 m isobath. Environmental conditions (sea ice, wind) and oceanographic variables (temperature, salinity, fluorescence and currents) were investigated to explain the variability of POC data. Annual downward POC fluxes in 2004, 2005 and 2006 cumulated, respectively, to 3.3, 4.2 and 6.0 g C m^?2 yr^?1 at ～100 m depth, and to 1.3, 2.2 and 3.3 g C m^?2 yr^?1 at ～210 m depth. The fraction of settling POC attributable to autochthonous processes occurring at or next to ice break-up was estimated to be 75–84% of the 100 m annual fluxes and to be 61–75% of the 210 m fluxes. Over the three ice-reduced seasons, distinct scenarios between ice conditions, surface POC pools and vertical POC export at 100 m were identified: (1) in 2004, despite a normal ice break-up, a weak primary production was measured and low vertical fluxes were collected as old ice moved across the region; (2) in 2005, a lengthened ice-free period allowed an extended season of surface POC production near-shore, while an intermediate increase of vertical fluxes was recorded offshore; and (3) in 2006, a late ice melt gave rise to a pulsed ice edge bloom and to large vertical fluxes also associated with extra ice-flushed material. Linear regressions of vertical POC fluxes against satellite-derived surface POC concentrations suggested that the pelagic POC retention in the upper 100 m of the Amundsen Gulf ranged from ca. 70% to 90% depending on the timing of ice cover melt. Regardless of the inter-annual variability, the estimated fraction of the surface POC reservoir reaching the 210 m water depth was reduced to ～5%. Therefore, as the Arctic Ocean warms up, our results support the expectation that the increasing extent of the seasonal ice zone will promote the POC pathways that benefit pelagic webs rather than benthic communities.     

Vertical changes in abundance,biomass and community structure of copepods down to 3000 m in the southern Bering Sea

Vertical changes in abundance, biomass and community structure of copepods down to 3000 m depth were studied at a single station of the Aleutian Basin of the Bering Sea (53°28′N, 177°00′W, depth 3779 m) on the 14th June 2006. Both abundance and biomass of copepods were greatest near the surface layer and decreased with increase in depth. Abundance and biomass of copepods integrated over 0–3000 m were 1,390,000 inds. m^?2 and 5056 mg C m^?2, respectively. Copepod carcasses occurred throughout the layer, and the carcass:living specimen ratio was the greatest in the oxygen minimum layer (750–100 m, the ratio was 2.3). A total of 72 calanoid copepod species belonging to 34 genera and 15 families occurred in the 0–3000 m water column (Cyclopoida, Harpacticoida and Poecilostomatoida were not identified to species level). Cluster analysis separated calanoid copepod communities into 5 groups (A–E). Each group was separated by depth, and the depth range of each group was at 0–75 m (A), 75–500 m (B), 500–750 m (C), 750–1500 m (D) and 1500–3000 m (E). Copepods were divided into four types based on the feeding pattern: suspension feeders, suspension feeders in diapause, detritivores and carnivores. In terms of abundance the most dominant group was suspension feeders (mainly Cyclopoida) in the epipelagic zone, and detritivores (mainly Poecilostomatoida) were dominant in the meso- and bathypelagic zones. In terms of biomass, suspension feeders in diapause (calanoid copepods Neocalanus spp. and Eucalanus bungii) were the major component (ca. 10–45%), especially in the 250–3000 m depth. These results are compared with the previous studies in the same region and that down to greater depths in the worldwide oceans.     

Chemical composition and energy content of deep-sea calanoid copepods in the Western North Pacific Ocean

Condition factor index [CFI=1000×DW/(PL)³; DW: dry weight, PL: prosome length], water content, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), ash and energy content were determined on a total of 69 copepod species caught from the mesopelagic (500–1000 m), upper-bathypelagic (1000–2000 m), lower-bathypelagic (2000–3000 m) and abyssopelagic (3000–5000 m) zones of the western subarctic Pacific. Resultant data were grouped into these four sampling zones, four developmental stage/sex categories (C4, C5 and C6 females and males), three feeding types (carnivore, detritivore and suspension feeder), or two reaction speed groups by the presence/absence of myelinated sheath enveloping axons (fast and slow reacting species). Zone-structured data showed the overall ranges were 3.8–4.6 mm for PL, 1.6–2.6 mg for DW, 21.4–25.0 for CFI, 75.0–78.6% of wet weight (WW) for water, 51.3–53.7% of DW for C, 7.7–8.8% of DW for N, 6.2–7.0 (by weight) for C/N, 6.9–9.6% of DW for ash and 25.3–27.4 J mg⁻¹ DW for energy. Among these components, N and ash exhibited significant between-zone differences characterized by gradual decrease downward for the former, and only the upper-bathypelagic zone>abyssopelagic zone for the latter. Stage/sex-structured data showed no significant differences among them, but energy content of C5 was higher than that of C6 females. From the analyses of feeding type-structured data, carnivores were shown to have lower water, N, ash, but higher C, C/N and energy contents than suspension feeders do. Reaction speed-structured data indicated that slow-reacting species have significantly higher water but lower CFI, C, N and energy contents than fast-reacting species. Designating these grouping criteria, PL and DW as independent variables, the attributes of these variables to the CFI, chemical composition or energy contents were evaluated by stepwise-multiple regression analysis, showing the most pronounced effect of suspension-feeder, followed by the presence of myelinated sheath, DW, C6 females and the abyssopelagic zone. Further analysis of zone-structured data, by adding epipelagic copepod data from identical thermal habitats (Arctic/Antarctic waters), revealed a more marked decline in N content from the epipelagic zone to the abyssopelagic zone, accompanied by an increase in C/N ratios downward. The decline in N (=protein or muscle) contents with depth cannot be explained by the “visual interactions” hypotheses being proposed for the metabolism of pelagic visual predators, but is consistent with the “predation-mediated selection” hypothesis for the metabolism of pelagic copepods.     

Bathymetric variations in vertical distribution patterns of meiofauna in the surface sediments of the deep Arctic ocean (HAUSGARTEN,Fram strait)

Deep-sea benthic communities and their structural and functional characteristics are regulated by surface water processes. Our study focused on the impact of changes in water depth and food supplies on small-sized metazoan bottom-fauna (meiobenthos) along a bathymetric transect (1200–5500 m) in the western Fram Strait. The samples were collected every summer season from 2005 to 2009 within the scope of the HAUSGARTEN monitoring program. In comparison to other polar regions, the large inflow of organic matter to the sea floor translates into relatively high meiofaunal densities in this region. Densities along the bathymetric gradient range from approximately 2400 ind. 10 cm^-2 at 1200 m to approximately 300 ind. 10 cm^-2 at 4000 m. Differences in meiofaunal distribution among sediment layers (i.e., vertical profile) were stronger than among stations (i.e., bathymetric gradient). At all the stations meiofaunal densities and number of taxa were the highest in the surface sediment layer (0–1 cm), and these decreased with increasing sediment depth (down to 4–5 cm). However, the shape of the decreasing pattern differed significantly among stations. Meiofaunal densities and taxonomic richness decreased gradually with increasing sediment depth at the shallower stations with higher food availability. At deeper stations, where the availability of organic matter is generally lower, meiofaunal densities decreased sharply to minor proportions at sediment depths already at 2–3 cm. Nematodes were the most abundant organisms (60–98%) in all the sediment layers. The environmental factors best correlated to the vertical patterns of the meiofaunal community were sediment-bound chloroplastic pigments that indicate phytodetrital matter.     

Factors influencing the abundance of deep pelagic bioluminescent zooplankton in the Mediterranean Sea

Measurements of the density of deep pelagic bioluminescent zooplankton (BL) were made with the Intensified Silicon Intensifier Target (ISIT) profiler in the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian Seas and the Strait of Sicily from ～300 m to near seafloor. Mean BL densities ranged from 2.61 m^?3 at 500–1000 m depth in the Adriatic Sea to 0.01 m^?3 at 4000–5000 m depth in the E Ionian Sea. We investigated drivers of spatial variation of deep pelagic BL density. Linear regression was applied between surface chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration and underlying BL density. Chl a values were determined from satellite derived 100 km radius composites (six 10-day means per ISIT deployment, over preceding 60 days). At 500–1000 m depth we found a significant positive relationship between mean BL density and mean Chl a in the period prior to 0–10 days (at 1% level) and prior to 10–40 days (at 5% level). Beyond 40 days no relationship between BL density and Chl a was found at this depth. At depths 1000–1500 m BL density values were low and no significant relationship with Chl a was detected. Generalised additive modelling (GAM) was used to assess the influence of benthic hotspots (seamount; cold water coral mound; mud volcano) on overlying BL density. A reduction in BL density was found downstream of the Palinuro seamount from 300 to 600 m. No effect on BL density in the overlying water column was detected from the presence of cold water corals. Higher BL densities were detected over the W Madonna dello Ionio mud volcano than at other sites sampled in the NW Ionian Sea. We find surface Chl a to be a good predictor of BL density in the mesopelagic zone; below this depth we hypothesise that processes affecting the efficiency of particle export to deep water may exert greater influence on BL density.     

Transformations of biogenic particulates from the pelagic to the deep ocean realm

This overview compares and contrasts trends in the magnitude of the downward Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) flux with observations on the vertical profiles of biogeochemical parameters in the NE subarctic Pacific. Samples were collected at Ocean Station Papa (OSP, 50°N, 145°W), between 18–22 May 1996, on pelagic stocks/rate processes, biogenic particle fluxes (drifting sediment traps, 100–1000 m), and vertical profiles of biogeochemical parameters from MULVFS (Multiple Unit Large Volume Filtration System) pumps (0–1000 m). Evidence from thorium disequilibria, along with observations on the relative partitioning of particles between the 1–53 μm and >53 μm classes in the 50 m mixed layer, indicate that there was little particle aggregation within the mixed layer, in contrast to the 50–100 m depth stratum where particle aggregation predominated. Vertical profiles of thorium/uranium also provided evidence of particle decomposition occuring at depths ca. 150 m; heterotrophic bacteria and mesozooplankton were likely responsible for most of this POC utilisation. A water column carbon balance indicated that the POC lost from sinking particles was the predominant source of carbon for bacteria, but was insufficient to meet their demands over the upper 1000 m. While, the vertical gradients of most parameters were greatest just below the mixed layer, there was evidence of sub-surface increases in microbial viability/growth rates at depths of 200–600 m. The C:N ratios of particles intercepted by free-drifting and deep-moored traps increased only slightly with depth, suggesting rapid sedimentation even though this region is dominated by small cells/grazers, and the upper water column is characterised by long particle residence times (>15 d), a fast turnover of POC (2 d) and a low but constant downward POC flux.     

Dimethylsulphide and dimethylsulphoniopropionate in Antarctic sea ice and their release during sea ice melting

This study presents concentrations of dimethylsulphide (DMS) and its precursor compound dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) in a variety of sea ice and seawater habitats in the Antarctic Sea Ice Zone (ASIZ) during spring and summer. Sixty-two sea ice cores of pack and fast ice were collected from twenty-seven sites across an area of the eastern ASIZ (64°E to 110°E; and the Antarctic coastline north to 62°S). Concentrations of DMS in 81 sections of sea ice ranged from < 0.3 to 75 nM, with an average of 12 nM. DMSP in 60 whole sea ice cores ranged from 25 to 796 nM and showed a negative relationship with ice thickness (y = 125x^− 0.8). Extremely high DMSP concentrations were found in 2 cores of rafted sea ice (2910 and 1110 nM). The relationship of DMSP with ice thickness (excluding rafted ice) suggests that the release of large amounts of DMSP during sea ice melting may occur in discrete areas defined by ice thickness distribution, and may produce ‘hot spots’ of elevated seawater DMS concentration of the order of 100 nM. During early summer across a 500 km transect through melting pack ice, elevated DMS concentrations (range 21–37 nM, mean 31 nM, n = 15) were found in surface seawater. This band of elevated DMS concentration appeared to have been associated with the release of sea ice DMS and DMSP rather than in situ production by an ice edge algal bloom, as chlorophyll a concentrations were relatively low (0.09–0.42 μg l^− 1). During fast ice melting in the area of Davis station, Prydz Bay, sea ice DMSP was released mostly as extracellular DMSP, since intracellular DMSP was negligible in both hyposaline brine (5 ppt) and in a melt water lens (4–5 ppt), while extracellular DMSP concentrations were as high as 149 and 54 nM, respectively in these habitats. DMS in a melt water lens was relatively high at 11 nM. During the ice-free summer in the coastal Davis area, DMS concentrations in surface seawater were highest immediately following breakout of the fast ice cover in late December (range 5–14 nM), and then remained at relatively low concentrations through to late February (< 0.3–6 nM). These measurements support the view that the melting of Antarctic sea ice produces elevated seawater DMS due to release of sea ice DMS and DMSP.     

Full-depth profiles of prokaryotes,heterotrophic nanoflagellates,and ciliates along a transect from the equatorial to the subarctic central Pacific Ocean

Studies in epipelagic waters report higher heterotrophic microbial biomass in the productive high latitudes than in the oligotrophic low latitudes; however, biogeographical data are scarce in the deep ocean. To examine the hypothesis that the observed latitudinal differences in heterotrophic microbial biomass in the epipelagic zone also occur at depth, abundance and biomass of heterotrophic prokaryotes, nanoflagellates (HNF), and ciliates were determined at depths of 5–5000 m in the central Pacific between August and September of 2005. Heterotrophic microbial biomass increased from the tropical to the subarctic region over the full water column, with latitudinal differences in prokaryotic biomass increasing from 2.3-fold in the epipelagic zone to 4.4-fold in the bathypelagic zone. However, the latitudinal difference in HNF and ciliate biomass decreased with depth. In the mesopelagic zone, the vertical attenuation rate of prokaryotic abundance, which was calculated as the linear regression slope of log-log plot of abundance versus depth, ranged from –0.55 to –1.26 and was more pronounced (steeper slope) in the lower latitudes. In contrast, the vertical attenuation rate of HNF in the mesopelagic zone (–1.06 to –1.27) did not differ with latitude. In the subarctic, the attenuation rate of HNF was 1.7 times steeper than for prokaryotes. These results suggest the accumulation of prokaryotes in the deep subarctic Pacific, possibly due to low grazing pressure. Although the vertical attenuation rate of ciliates was steepest in the bathypelagic zone, HNF abundance did not further decrease at depths below 1000 m, except for at 2000 m where HNF was lowest across the study area. Ciliate abundance ranged 0.3–0.8 cells l^–1 at 4000 m, and were below the detection limit (<0.1 cells l ^–1) at 5000 m. To our knowledge, this study presents the first data for ciliates below 2000 m.     

Dissolved organic carbon and apparent oxygen utilization in the Atlantic Ocean

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) distributions along two Atlantic Meridional Transects conducted in 2005 in the region between 47°N and 34°S showed clear latitudinal patterns. The DOC concentrations in the epipelagic zone (0–100 m) were the highest (70–90 µM) in tropical and subtropical waters with stable mixed layers, and lowest (50–55 µM) at the poleward extremities of the transects due to deep convective mixing supplying low DOC waters to the surface. A decrease in DOC occurred with depth, and lowest DOC concentrations (41–45 µM) in the 100–300 m depth range were observed in the equatorial region due to upwelling of low DOC waters. A strong relationship between DOC and AOU was observed in the σ–t 26–26.5 isopycnal layer which underlies the euphotic zone and outcrops at the poleward extremities of the North and South Atlantic Subtropical Gyres (NASG and SASG) in the region ventilating the thermocline waters. Our observations reveal significant north–south variability in the DOC–AOU relationship. The gradient of the relationship suggests that 52% of the AOU in the σ–t 26–26.5 density range was driven by DOC degradation in the NASG and 36% in the SASG, with the remainder due to the remineralisation of sinking particulate material. We assess possible causes for the greater contribution of DOC remineralisation in the NASG compared to the SASG.     

Community structure across a large-scale ocean productivity gradient: Marine bird assemblages of the Southern Indian Ocean

Our objective was to understand how marine birds respond to oceanographic variability across the Southern Indian Ocean using data collected during an 16-day cruise (4–21 January 2003). We quantified concurrent water mass distributions, ocean productivity patterns, and seabird distributions across a heterogeneous pelagic ecosystem from subtropical to sub-Antarctic waters. We surveyed 5155 km and sighted 15,606 birds from 51 species, and used these data to investigate how seabirds respond to spatial variability in the structure and productivity of the ocean. We addressed two spatial scales: the structure of seabird communities across macro-mega scale (1000 s km) biogeographic domains, and their coarse-scale (10 s km) aggregation at hydrographic and bathymetric gradients. Both seabird density and species composition changed with latitudinal and onshore–offshore gradients in depth, water temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration. The average seabird density increased across the subtropical convergence (STC) from 2.4 birds km⁻² in subtropical waters to 23.8 birds km⁻² in sub-Antarctic waters. The composition of the avifauna also differed across biogeographic domains. Prions (Pachyptila spp.) accounted for 57% of all sub-Antarctic birds, wedge-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) accounted for 46% of all subtropical birds, and Indian Ocean yellow-nosed albatross (Thallasarche carteri) accounted for 32% of all birds in the STC. While surface feeders were the most abundant foraging guild across the study area, divers were disproportionately more numerous in the sub-Antarctic domain, and plungers were disproportionately more abundant in subtropical waters. Seabird densities were also higher within shallow shelf-slope regions, especially in sub-Antarctic waters, where large numbers of breeding seabirds concentrated. However, we did not find elevated seabird densities along the STC, suggesting that this broad frontal region is not a site of enhanced aggregation.     

Sea-ice-thickness variability in the Chukchi Sea,spring and summer 2002–2004

Measurements of sea-ice thickness were obtained from drill holes, an ice-based electromagnetic induction instrument (IEM), and a ship-borne electromagnetic induction instrument (SEM) during the early-melt season in the southern Chukchi Sea in 2002 and 2004, and in late summer 2003 at the time of minimum ice extent in the northern Chukchi Sea. An ice roughness criterion was applied to distinguish between level and rough or ridged ice. Ice-thickness modes in the probability density functions (PDFs) derived from drill-hole and IEM measurements agreed well, with modes at 1.5–1.6 and 1.8–1.9 m for all data from level ice. The PDFs derived from SEM measurements show that the primary modes are at 0.1 and 1.1 m in 2003 and 0.7 m in 2004. In 2002 and 2004, significant fractions (between one-third and one-half) of level ice were found to consist of rafted ice segments. Snow depth varied significantly between years, with 2004 data showing more than half the snow cover on level ice to be at or below 0.05 m depth in late spring. Ice growth simulations and examination of ice drift and deformation history indicate that impacts of atmospheric and oceanic warming on level-ice thickness in the region over the past few decades are masked to a large extent by variability in snow depth and the contribution of deformation processes. In comparison with submarine sonar ice-thickness data from previous decades, a reduction in ice thickness by about 0.5–1 m is in part explained by the replacement of multi-year with first-year ice over the Chukchi and Beaufort shelves.     

Hydrography and geostrophy around Easter Island

A series of hydrographic stations north and south of Easter Island (27′10′S, 109′20′W), Chile, were sampled between 22 and 23 May, 1994. The hydrography measured was consistent with basin-scale studies and showed a surface mixed layer that ranged between 80 and 115 m depth and had temperature and salinity values typical of autumn subtropical waters (22′C in temperature and 35.85 in salinity). The hydrography indicated the presence of two water masses in the vicinity of the island: the eastern South Pacific Central Water and the Antarctic Intermediate Water. Nutrient concentrations in general were lowest at the surface, over a layer that was deeper than the density mixed layer, and increased with depth. The appearance of salt fingers within the eastern South Pacific Central water mass was suggested by the positive vertical gradients of temperature and salinity, by the rough steps in the temperature and salinity profiles, and by the low and positive density ratios combined with Turner angles between 70′ and 80′. The density field indicated the development of geostrophic flows that were consistent with the eastern portion of the subtropical gyre of the South Pacific and with the surface dynamic topography of the period of observations. Due to the presence of the island, the large-scale north-northwestward geostrophic flows were reversed at spatial scales comparable to the size of the island.     

Zooplankton structure and grazing in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in late austral summer 1993: Part 1. Ecological zonation

The composition, distribution, abundance, biomass and size structure of mesozooplankton, collected using Bongo nets in the top 300 m layer along a transect between the Antarctic continent and Cape Town, were investigated during the second South African Antarctic Marine Ecosystem Study (SAAMES II) in Jan.–Feb. 1993. Small (<10 mm) and medium (20–50 mm) size groups of zooplankton consistently dominated across the Southern Ocean. The highest zooplankton densities were recorded at the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) and at the Subtropical Convergence (STC). Minor peaks in zooplankton densities were observed in the southern vicinity of the Subantarctic Front (SAF) and APF. Elevated zooplankton stocks were also found within the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) and the Polar Frontal Zone. The lowest densities were recorded in the permanently open zone (MIZ–APF) and in the Subantarctic zone (SAF–STC). Copepods were generally important along the entire transect and formed the bulk of zooplankton stock within the MIZ and in the Polar Frontal Zone (APF–SAF), accounting for at least 40–95% of total abundance and biomass. Euphausiids were also a prominent group along the transect. Their contribution was highest (up to 80% of total biomass) between the MIZ and the APF, mainly because of the occurrence of swarms of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Tunicates, Pyrosoma sp. and Salpa fusiformis, were found in great numbers only in the region of the STC and further north, while Salpa thompsoni was abundant at the southern boundary of the APF. Chaetognaths dominated samples numerically and by mass in the Subantarctic Zone. Results obtained from cluster and ordination analyses show that zooplankton community structure was well correlated with the position of various biogeographical zones separated by the main frontal systems of the Southern Ocean. Two major groupings of stations, separated by the SAF, were identified in these analyses. This front separated the Antarctic and the subantarctic/subtropical assemblages, confirming its important role as a biogeographical boundary.     

Primary production export flux in Marguerite Bay (Antarctic Peninsula): Linking upper water-column production to sediment trap flux

A study was carried out to assess primary production and associated export flux in the coastal waters of the western Antarctic Peninsula at an oceanographic time-series site. New, i.e., exportable, primary production in the upper water-column was estimated in two ways; by nutrient deficit measurements, and by primary production rate measurements using separate ¹⁴C-labelled radioisotope and ¹⁵N-labelled stable isotope uptake incubations. The resulting average annual exportable primary production estimates at the time-series site from nutrient deficit and primary production rates were 13 and 16 mol C m⁻², respectively. Regenerated primary production was measured using ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium and urea uptake, and was low throughout the sampling period.The exportable primary production measurements were compared with sediment trap flux measurements from 2 locations; the time-series site and at a site 40 km away in deeper water. Results showed ∼1% of the upper mixed layer exportable primary production was exported to traps at 200 m depth at the time-series site (total water column depth 520 m). The maximum particle flux rate to sediment traps at the deeper offshore site (total water column depth 820 m) was lower than the flux at the coastal time-series site. Flux of particulate organic carbon was similar throughout the spring–summer high flux period for both sites. Remineralisation of particulate organic matter predominantly occurred in the upper water-column (<200 m depth), with minimal remineralisation below 200 m, at both sites. This highly productive region on the Western Antarctic Peninsula is therefore best characterised as ‘high recycling, low export’.     

The seasonal succession of zooplankton in the Southern Ocean south of Australia,part I: The seasonal ice zone

Between November 2001 and March 2002 an Australian/Japanese collaborative study completed six passes of a transect line in the Seasonal-Ice Zone (south of 62°S) along 140°E. Zooplankton samples were collected with a NORPAC net on 22–28 November, and a Continuous Plankton Recorder on 10–15 January, 11–12 February, 19–22 February, 25–26 February, and 10–11 March. Zooplankton densities were lowest on 22–28 November (ave=61 individuals (ind) m⁻³), when almost the entire transect was covered by sea ice. By 10–15 January sea surface temperature had increased by ∼2 °C across the transect line, and the study area was ice-free. Total zooplankton abundance had increased to maximum levels for the season (ave=1301 ind m⁻³; max=1979 ind m⁻³), dominated by a “Peak Community” comprising Oithona similis, Ctenocalanus citer, Clausocalanus laticeps, foraminiferans, Limacina spp., appendicularians, Rhincalanus gigas and large calanoid copepodites (C1–3). Total densities declined on each subsequent transect, returning to an average of 169 ind m⁻³ on 10–11 March. The seasonal density decline was due to the decline in densities of “Peak Community” taxa, but coincided with the rise of Euphausia superba larvae into the surface waters, increased densities of Salpa thompsoni, and an increased contribution of C4 to adult stages to the populations of Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus and Calanus simillimus. The seasonal community succession appeared to be influenced by the low sea ice extent and southward projection of the ACC in this region. The relatively warm ACC waters, together with low krill biomass, favoured high densities of small grazers during the January/February bloom conditions. The persistence of relatively warm surface waters in March and the seasonal decrease in chlorophyll a biomass provided favorable conditions for salps, which were able to penetrate south of the Southern Boundary.     

Arctic ocean shelf–basin interaction: An active continental shelf CO2 pump and its impact on the degree of calcium carbonate solubility

The Arctic Ocean has wide shelf areas with extensive biological activity including a high primary productivity and an active microbial loop within the surface sediment. This in combination with brine production during sea ice formation result in the decay products exiting from the shelf into the deep basin typically at a depth of about 150 m and over a wide salinity range centered around S ～33. We present data from the Beringia cruise in 2005 along a section in the Canada Basin from the continental margin north of Alaska towards the north and from the International Siberian Shelf Study in 2008 (ISSS-08) to illustrate the impact of these processes. The water rich in decay products, nutrients and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), exits the shelf not only from the Chukchi Sea, as has been shown earlier, but also from the East Siberian Sea. The excess of DIC found in the Canada Basin in a depth range of about 50–250 m amounts to 90±40 g C m^?2. If this excess is integrated over the whole Canadian Basin the excess equals 320±140×10¹² g C. The high DIC concentration layer also has low pH and consequently a low degree of calcium carbonate saturation, with minimum aragonite values of 60% saturation and calcite values just below saturation. The mean age of the waters in the top 300 m was calculated using the transit time distribution method. By applying a future exponential increase of atmospheric CO₂ the invasion of anthropogenic carbon into these waters will result in an under-saturated surface water with respect to aragonite by the year 2050, even without any freshening caused by melting sea ice or increased river discharge.     

The structure of zooplankton communities,in the 2 to 2000 μm size range,in the Arabian Sea during and after the SW monsoon, 1994

Zooplankton communities, studied in the surface mixed layer on a 1600 m transect across the Arabian Sea, were found to differ in their temporal and spatial response to seasonal forcing. The transect studied, spanned seasonally eutrophic upwelling, mesotrophic downwelling and aseasonal oligotrophic waters. The nano- and microzooplankton communities constituted a relatively constant compartment in the tropical monsoon ecosystem, whilst the mesozooplankton showed a clear response to both upwelling and season. The heterotrophic nanoflagellates were concentrated in the surface mixed layer, except in the eutrophic upwelling waters of the SW monsoon. They reached maximum cell concentrations of 855 ml^-1 during the SW monsoon and a maximum biomass of 8.4 mg C m^-3 during the intermonsoon. Nanozooplankton standing stocks, in the surface mixed layer, ranged between 7 and 333 mg C m^-2, with highest stocks found during the intermonsoon. The microzooplankton community was dominated by Protozoa, particularly aloricate ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates, which accounted for up to 99% in terms of numbers and up to 71% of the biomass. Sarcodines and metazoan nauplii were recorded in lower numbers (<400 l^-1). The microzooplankton were also concentrated in the surface mixed layer during both periods, except in the eutrophic coastal waters during the SW monsoon, when relatively high biomass values were found below the mixed layer depth. Their standing stocks, in the surface mixed layer, ranged between 50 and 182 mg C m^-2, with the highest concentration found in the mesotrophic offshore waters during the late monsoon period. Total mesozooplankton standing stocks, in the surface 100 m, decreased with distance from the coastal to offshore waters and between seasons, decreasing from 1248 to 238 mg C m^-2 during the late SW monsoon and 656–89 mg C m^-2 during the following intermonsoon. The largest size class, of 1000–2000 μm sized organisms, dominated throughout except at the oligotrophic station during the intermonsoon period, when the smallest class, of 200–500 μm, were more important. The shift in size structure from large to small zooplankton occurred in response to a shift in dominance from large to small phytoplankton cells both spatially, along a eutrophic–oligotrophic gradient, and seasonally. These responses are a result of the physical forcing associated with the monsoon seasons in the Arabian Sea.     

Pigments in sediments beneath recently collapsed ice shelves: The case of Larsen A and B shelves,Antarctic Peninsula

In March 2002, 3200 km² of the Larsen B ice shelf collapsed off the Eastern Antarctic Peninsula (EAP). In the austral summer of 2006, sea floor sediment was recovered beneath the extinct Larsen B ice shelf and in a region off the Northern Antarctic Peninsula (NAP), which has been free of ice shelves for more than 1000 yr. To assess changes in the chemical composition of the sediment after ice shelf collapses, chlorophylls and pheophytins were measured in sediment cores at six stations. This is the first time that chlorophyll pigments have been analysed in sediment samples from regions under recently collapsed ice shelves. Five years after the ice shelf collapse, Chla and Chlc concentrations were similar in the interfacial sediment (upper 1 cm) of NAP and EAP regions. However, in EAP Chla and Chlc concentrations decreased more rapidly with depth in the sediment column and were negligible below 2 cm depth. The high Chla to Pheoa ratios indicated that sedimentary pigments found in EAP had undergone limited degradation suggesting that they were locally produced rather than laterally advected. Complementary information from excess ²¹⁰Pb activity and diatom valve distributions provided further evidence that the pigment fluxes to the seabed in EAP took place only after the ice shelf collapse.     

Bathymetric distribution of chaetognaths and their association with water masses off the coast of Valparaı́so,Chile

The bathymetric distribution of chaetognaths was studied at an oceanic station located 14 nautical miles off Valparaı́so. During an annual cycle between July 1994 and September 1995, vertical samples of plankton were taken between 0 and 900 m depth. Temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen showed temporal and spatial fluctuations within the surface layer (0–100 m), mainly affected by Subantarctic Water and in certain periods by Subtropical Water. Between 150 and 400 m low dissolved oxygen content and higher salinity were found, characteristic of Equatorial Subsurface Waters, and between 400 and 800 m Antarctic Intermediate Water, characterized by its higher content of dissolved oxygen and lower temperature and salinity was present. Fifteen species of chaetognaths were identified: Sagitta bierii, S. enflata, S. minima, S. pacifica, S. lyra, S. planctonis, S. marri, S. macrocephala, S. maxima, S. decipiens, S. tasmanica, S. gazellae, Krohnitta subtilis, Eukrohnia hamata and E. fowleri. The most abundant and frequent species were Sagitta enflata, S. bierii and Eukrohnia hamata. The greatest density of chaetognaths was confined to the 0–200 m water column and the species diversity gradually decreased from the epiplanktonic to the mesoplanktonic domain. The vertical distribution of the chaetognaths showed a strong association with the water masses present. The epipelagic species (0–200 m) S. enflata, S. bierii, S. minima and Krohnitta subtilis are associated mainly with Subantarctic Water and occasionally with Subtropical Water; the mesopelagic species (200–1000 m) S. lyra, S. planctonis, S. macrocephala, S. marri and E. fowleri are associated with Equatorial Subsurface Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water. There is another species assemblage of broad bathymetric distribution (0–900 m) consisting of E. hamata, S. decipiens and S. maxima, which does not show a distinctive association with a given water mass. E. hamata is an indicator species of upwelling events off the Chilean coast, showing an association with waters of low temperatures, greater salinity, and low contents of dissolved oxygen, which are characteristic of Equatorial Subsurface Water.