Virtual Posters
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Virtual Posters
FURTHER NORTH: MAPPING CALANUS SPP. DISTRIBUTION AND SEA WATER TEMPERATURE IN NW SPITSBERGEN SHELF AT SUMMER 2009 & 2010
Marine
Arctic Frontiers Conference 2011, Tromso, Norwa
2011
Despite the fact that West Spitsbergen Shelf, especially its northern part, is an excellent site to track the consequences of climate change on marine ecosystems, the knowledge on zooplankton from Magdalenefjorden and Smeerenburgfjorden is very scarce. This frontal area is characterized by unstable environmental conditions, notably the fluctuating inflow of Atlantic water masses, which affect the whole ecosystem through extending geographical ranges of temperate species (e.g., Calanus finmarchicus). Very few previous investigations in this area tried to assess the zooplankton community structure using traditional methods (e.g., net sampling) and provided us with rather rough snapshot information on the issue. Within the Alkekonge project we obtained an opportunity to use advanced Laser Optical Plankton Counter (LOPC) technology which met a widely recognized need for mapping accurately the distribution and size structure of zooplankton over broad expanses of space concurrently with environmental parameters.
During two summer seasons 2009 and 2010 the surface layer (10 m) was studied by LOPC to assess the mesozooplankton distribution in relation to hydrography in Magdalenefjorden and Smeerenburgfjorden regions. The mesoscale, taxa-specific mapping was performed to characterize a distribution pattern of Calanus spp. on the background of ocean water temperature.
The results of 2009 and 2010 suggested that there was hardly any older stages of Calanus spp. inside the Magdalenefjorden, contrary to a few high patches outside the fjord (on the continental shelf). Further north, on neighboring Smeerenburgfjorden shelf, the Calanus spp. distribution was closely associated with sea temperature. During the warmer 2009 season we noted significantly higher concentration of Calanus spp. (probably the Atlantic species Calanus finmarchicus) in contrast to low concentrations in much colder 2010 season.
By using the LOPC method providing comprehensive information on living biota and ocean temperature we were able to observe the northward inflow of the Atlantic water masses to the NW Spitsbergen Shelf.
During two summer seasons 2009 and 2010 the surface layer (10 m) was studied by LOPC to assess the mesozooplankton distribution in relation to hydrography in Magdalenefjorden and Smeerenburgfjorden regions. The mesoscale, taxa-specific mapping was performed to characterize a distribution pattern of Calanus spp. on the background of ocean water temperature.
The results of 2009 and 2010 suggested that there was hardly any older stages of Calanus spp. inside the Magdalenefjorden, contrary to a few high patches outside the fjord (on the continental shelf). Further north, on neighboring Smeerenburgfjorden shelf, the Calanus spp. distribution was closely associated with sea temperature. During the warmer 2009 season we noted significantly higher concentration of Calanus spp. (probably the Atlantic species Calanus finmarchicus) in contrast to low concentrations in much colder 2010 season.
By using the LOPC method providing comprehensive information on living biota and ocean temperature we were able to observe the northward inflow of the Atlantic water masses to the NW Spitsbergen Shelf.
Arctic, Calanus, Spitsbergen, LOPC, mapping, distribution,
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