Sediment, water and biomass characteristics along gradients in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

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Main Authors: Woelfel, Jana, Schumann, Rhena, Leopold, Peter, Wiencke, Christian, Karsten, Ulf
Format: Dataset Open Access
Language:en
Published: PANGAEA 2009
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author Woelfel, Jana
Schumann, Rhena
Leopold, Peter
Wiencke, Christian
Karsten, Ulf
author_facet Woelfel, Jana
Schumann, Rhena
Leopold, Peter
Wiencke, Christian
Karsten, Ulf
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents In contrast to numerous studies on the biomass of marine microphytobenthos from temperate coastal ecosystems, little is known from polar regions. Therefore, microphytobenthos biomass was measured at several coastal sites in Arctic Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen) during the polar summer (June-August 2006). On sandy sediments, chla varied between 8 and 200 mg/m**2 and was related to water depth, current/wave exposure and geographical location. Biomass was rather independent of abiotic parameters such as sediment properties, salinity, temperature or light availability. At three stations, sediments at water depths of 3-4, 10, 15, 20 and 30 m were investigated to evaluate the effect of light availability on microalgae. Significant differences in distribution patterns of biomass in relation to deeper waters >10 m were found. The productive periods were not as distinct as phytoplankton blooms. Only at 3-4 m water depth at all three stations were two- to threefold increases of biomass measured during the investigation period. Hydrodynamic conditions seemed to be the driving force for differences in sediment colonisation by benthic microalgae. In spite of the extreme Arctic environmental conditions for algal growth, microphytobenthos biomass was comparable to marine temperate waters.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_860043
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2009
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Sediment, water and biomass characteristics along gradients in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
Woelfel, Jana
Schumann, Rhena
Leopold, Peter
Wiencke, Christian
Karsten, Ulf
Priority Programme 1158 Antarctic Research with Comparable Investigations in Arctic Sea Ice Areas; SPP1158
In contrast to numerous studies on the biomass of marine microphytobenthos from temperate coastal ecosystems, little is known from polar regions. Therefore, microphytobenthos biomass was measured at several coastal sites in Arctic Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen) during the polar summer (June-August 2006). On sandy sediments, chla varied between 8 and 200 mg/m**2 and was related to water depth, current/wave exposure and geographical location. Biomass was rather independent of abiotic parameters such as sediment properties, salinity, temperature or light availability. At three stations, sediments at water depths of 3-4, 10, 15, 20 and 30 m were investigated to evaluate the effect of light availability on microalgae. Significant differences in distribution patterns of biomass in relation to deeper waters >10 m were found. The productive periods were not as distinct as phytoplankton blooms. Only at 3-4 m water depth at all three stations were two- to threefold increases of biomass measured during the investigation period. Hydrodynamic conditions seemed to be the driving force for differences in sediment colonisation by benthic microalgae. In spite of the extreme Arctic environmental conditions for algal growth, microphytobenthos biomass was comparable to marine temperate waters.
title Sediment, water and biomass characteristics along gradients in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
topic Priority Programme 1158 Antarctic Research with Comparable Investigations in Arctic Sea Ice Areas; SPP1158
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.860043