大规模的浮游植物在北极海冰下盛开
Kevin R Arrigo1, Donald K Perovich, Robert S Pickart
1Department of Environmental Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. arrigo@stanford.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 9, 2012
概括
在北冰洋的固体海冰下发现了一种巨大的浮游生物繁殖. 这一发现挑战了之前的假设,并表明北极原始产量可能被严重低估.
科学领域:
- 海洋学 海洋学 海洋学
- 海洋生物学 海洋生物学
- 北极研究研究北极研究
背景情况:
- 传统上,人们认为北冰洋的浮游生物繁荣只发生在没有冰的水域.
- 海冰稀薄和融化池的增加增加了光线在北极架地区的透率.
研究的目的:
- 记录和描述一个巨大的浮游植物的繁荣发生在巩固的包冰下面的楚克奇海.
- 评估冰下花期对北极初级产量估计的影响.
主要方法:
- 在厚厚的海冰下实体浮游生物的现场观测和采样.
- 测量植物浮游生物质,生长率和初级生产.
- 对影响光传输的环境因素的分析.
主要成果:
- 一个实质性的浮游生物繁荣,以藻为主,被确定远离冰边,在巩固的包冰下.
- 在冰下开花期间记录了藻生长和初级生产的高速度.
- 由于冰层变薄和融化池的增加,增加的光线传输促进了开花.
结论:
- 大规模的植物浮游生物繁荣可以发生在北极固体海冰下面,这与以前的理解相反.
- 在营养丰富的北极货架上,冰下花可能更为普遍.
- 目前基于卫星的对北极原始产量的估计可能大大低估了实际价值,可能高达十倍.
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