Summer variability in bio-optical properties and phytoplankton pigment signatures in two adjacent high Arctic fjords, Svalbard

Tripathy, S.C.; Varunan, Theenathayalan; Shanmugam, Palanisamy; Kerkar, Anvita U.; Bhaskar, Jane Theophline; Kurian, Siby; Parli, B. V.; Gauns, Mangesh

doi:10.1007/s13762-021-03767-4

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Sea ice loss results in increased light penetration in the water column during spring and a subsequent increase in ocean productivity 4 . However, the light available for primary production is reduced later in the year in coastal zones when glacial meltwater discharge is at its maximum 5 . During summer, light attenuation in the glacial bays is affected mainly by the process of light scattering by suspended particulate matter (SPM) 6 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dark plumes of glacial meltwater affect vertical distribution of zooplankton in the Arctic

Szeligowska

Trudnowska

Boehnke

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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In polar regions, the release of glacial meltwater resulting in turbid plumes is expected to transform coastal waters with numerous consequences on the marine ecosystem. This study aimed to determine the influence of turbidity regimes on the vertical distribution of copepods together with their potential food (chlorophyll a fluorescence) and non-visual predators (gelatinous zooplankton). Hydrography, turbidity, suspended particulate matter and chlorophyll a were studied in July and August 2019 in West Spitsbergen waters (European Arctic). Fine-scale vertical distribution patterns of zooplankton were assessed by an optical counter (LOPC) and underwater camera (UVP) and verified by plankton nets. In waters with the shallow impact of dark plumes, Calanus spp. and gelatinous zooplankton were concentrated in the upper water layers, whereas in areas with a thick turbid layer, they were distributed evenly in the water column. However, chlorophyll a peaks were found to be restricted to the surface in the turbid waters and there were subsurface maxima in the shallow turbidity regime. Regardless of the region, the turbidity regime was a significant factor shaping the vertical distribution of Calanus spp. We speculate that similar trends might be observed in other rapidly emerging turbid ecosystems and urge that future plankton research should also include relatively simple turbidity measurements.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%