The biomass, productivity, physiology and grazing pressures of phytoplankton during the polar winter in the Ross Sea region Entry ID:
K043_2007_2008_NZ_1
Abstract:
What happens to primary production during the long polar night was investigated in the Ross Sea region. Phytoplankton samples were obtained from the water column at Cape Armitage and Cape Evans. Phytoplankton chlorophyll biomass was assessed by standard fluorometric methods using filtered samples. The photosynthesis rate (productivity) and photophysiology of phytoplankton was measured using Water PAM and Microscope PAM to determine maximum quantum yield of fluorescence, the photoadaptive index (Ek), relative electron transfer rate (reIETRmas) and photosynthetic efficiency on cells of common species. This was used to determine which taxa are the most physiological active and which are more able to adapt to the low light conditions of winter. The allocation of photosynthate into protein, polysaccaride, lipid and low molecular weight metabolites in naturally occurring phytoplankton and sea ice algae communities was examined. Phytoplankton growth rate and grazing rates were determined by measuring chlorophyll a concentrations over time from sea water samples containing variable ciliates and flagellates densities. Using phytoplankton and bacteria from sea ice, the rates of sea ice bacteria and algal growth and rates of grazing by zooplankton was assessed.
Existing samples are held at Victoria University of Wellington with a spreadsheet of sample numbers. All raw data is held by the investigators. Please contact Dr Ken Ryan for more information.
Name:
SHULAMIT
GORDON Phone:
+64 3 358 0200
Fax:
+64 3 358 0211
Email:
s.gordon at antarcticanz.govt.nz
Contact Address:
Antarctica New Zealand
Private Bag 4745 City:
Christchurch
Country:
New Zealand
Personnel
KEN
RYAN Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 4 463 6083
Fax:
+64 4 463 5331
Email:
ken.ryan at vuw.ac.nz
Contact Address:
Victoria University of Wellington
School of Biological Sciences
PO BOX 600 City:
Wellington
Postal Code:
6140
Country:
New Zealand
SHULAMIT
GORDON Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Phone:
+64 3 358 0200
Fax:
+64 3 358 0211
Email:
s.gordon at antarcticanz.govt.nz
Contact Address:
Antarctica New Zealand
Private Bag 4745 City:
Christchurch
Country:
New Zealand
Publications/References
McMinn, A., Martin, A. and Ryan, K.G. 2010. Phytoplankton and sea ice algal biomass and physiology during the transition between winter and spring (McMurdo Sound, Antarctica). Polar Biology DOI: 10.1007/s00300-010-0844-6.
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2005-09-22
Last DIF Revision Date:
2010-09-20
