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The marine ecosystem of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (2002)

Hop, Haakon ; Pearson, Tom ; Hegseth, Else Nøst ; [et al.]

Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Polar research 21 (2002), S. 0

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ISSN: 1751-8369

Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Topics: Geography , Geosciences

Notes: 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.

Type of Medium: Electronic Resource

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-8369.2002.tb00073.x

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Ice amphipod distribution relative to ice density and under-ice topography in the northern Barents Sea (2000)

Hop, Haakon ; Poltermann, Michael ; Lønne, Ole Jørgen ; [et al.]

Springer

Polar biology 23 (2000), S. 357-367

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ISSN: 1432-2056

Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Topics: Biology

Notes: Abstract Arctic ice amphipods are part of the sympagic macrofauna in the Marginal Ice Zone of the northern Barents Sea and represent an important link from lower to higher trophic levels in some Arctic marine food chains. The species diversity in this area (1995/1996) consisted of four species: Gammarus wilkitzkii, Apherusa glacialis, Onisimus nanseni and Onisimus glacialis. The larger ice amphipod, G. wilkitzkii, was the most abundant with the highest biomass (〉90%), whereas A. glacialis was abundant, but contributed little to the total biomass (〈4%). The other two species were found only in small numbers. Both abundance and biomass of ice amphipods decreased along a latitudinal gradient from north to south across the Marginal Ice Zone. Their distribution was also related to the under-ice topography with regard to mesoscale structures (edge, flat area, dome and ridge). Overall, the abundance and biomass on ridges were much higher in comparison to other mesoscale structures, although edges also showed high abundance, but low biomass. The large G. wilkitzkii was consistently abundant on ridges. The small A. glacialis was predominately associated with edges, but also showed high numbers in dome-shaped areas. The Onisimus species were present in low numbers at all structures, and their biomass contributed 〈10% on any one structure. The reasons for different distribution patterns of the dominant amphipod species under Arctic sea ice are probably related to different requirements of the species, especially for food, shelter and physiological conditions.