The role of biodiversity for ecosystem functions in polar sea-ice ecosystems
Ehrlich, J. (2021). The role of biodiversity for ecosystem functions in polar sea-ice ecosystems. PhD Thesis. University of Hamburg, Department of Biology: Hamburg. 249 pp.
|  |
| Available in | Author |
|
Document type: Dissertation
|
| Keyword |
|
| Author keywords |
Arctic Ocean; pack ice; zooplankton; meiofauna; ecosystem; biodiversity; Eurasian Basin; carbon flux |
| Abstract |
In the Arctic Ocean, changes caused by global climate warming have been the focus of research for about two decades. Especially the decline and loss of sea ice, but also the increasing inflow of Atlantic Water into the Arctic Ocean or the northward shift of sea-ice formation, are studied processes related to climate change. Those physical changes will undoubtedly affect the Arctic marine ecosystem. Our knowledge of this unique ecosystem, though, is still incomplete, which makes it difficult to assess the consequences of ongoing climate change. More recently, the research focus has been on the importance of ice algae and phytoplankton for the Arctic marine food web. As the main primary producers, they constitute an important food source for many ice-associated (sympagic) species that rely on the ice-algal bloom in spring and the phytoplankton bloom in summer. Sympagic species are important transmitters of carbon from the sea-ice to pelagic and benthic communities. In order to assess the consequences of environmental changes for sympagic communities, we need to broaden our basic understanding of underlying ecosystem functions, such as biomass or carbon cycling. |
|
