Export of Algal Biomass from the Melting Arctic Sea Ice

Boetius, Antje; Albrecht, Sebastian; Bakker, Karel; Bienhold, Christina; Felden, Janine; Fernández‐Méndez, Mar; Hendricks, Stefan; Katlein, Christian; Lalande, Catherine; Krumpen, Thomas; Nicolaus, Marcel; Peeken, Ilka; Rabe, Benjamin; Rogacheva, Antonina; Rybakova, Elena; Somavilla, R.; Wenzhöfer, Frank

doi:10.1126/science.1231346

Cited by 373 publications

(394 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…When sea ice melts, its dissolved and particulate constituents are released into the surface waters (27,28), contributing to the microbial dynamics in both the melting ice and melt waters (19,(29)(30)(31). Physical aggregation of EPS in seawater to form larger particles may promote the sinking of particulate organic matter from the surface waters (19,32), or produce EPS foams that are…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Broad-scale predictability of carbohydrates and exopolymers in Antarctic and Arctic sea ice

Underwood

Aslam

Michel

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Sea ice can contain high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), much of which is carbohydrate-rich extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by microalgae and bacteria inhabiting the ice. Here we report the concentrations of dissolved carbohydrates (dCHO) and dissolved EPS (dEPS) in relation to algal standing stock [estimated by chlorophyll (Chl) a concentrations] in sea ice from six locations in the Southern and Arctic Oceans. Concentrations varied substantially within and between sampling sites, reflecting local ice conditions and biological content. However, combining all data revealed robust statistical relationships between dCHO concentrations and the concentrations of different dEPS fractions, Chl a, and DOC. These relationships were true for whole ice cores, bottom ice (biomass rich) sections, and colder surface ice. The distribution of dEPS was strongly correlated to algal biomass, with the highest concentrations of both dEPS and non-EPS carbohydrates in the bottom horizons of the ice. Complex EPS was more prevalent in colder surface sea ice horizons. Predictive models (validated against independent data) were derived to enable the estimation of dCHO concentrations from data on ice thickness, salinity, and vertical position in core. When Chl a data were included a higher level of prediction was obtained. The consistent patterns reflected in these relationships provide a strong basis for including estimates of regional and seasonal carbohydrate and dEPS carbon budgets in coupled physical-biogeochemical models, across different types of sea ice from both polar regions. S ea ice covers extensive regions of the Arctic and SouthernOceans, as well as some subpolar seas, and exhibits major annual, interannual, and long-term climate-related variability in age, thickness, and structure (1-3). Sea ice is not an inert physical barrier to air-ocean exchange (4), and both microbial activity and physico-chemical reactions within the ice contribute to regional-scale biogeochemical processes at the air-ocean surface interface (5).Sea ice provides a range of habitats for diverse biological assemblages that are characterized by high standing stocks of microalgae and bacteria (6). These microorganisms produce large quantities of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), often in the form of carbohydrate-rich extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) (7). Microbial EPS exist in a dynamic equilibrium from dissolved polysaccharides (dEPS <0.2 μm) to complex particulate EPS that can form gels on the millimeter to centimeter scale (8). Here we focus on the biologically relevant dissolved carbohydrates (dCHO) that constitute a substantial fraction of the DOC in sea ice (9-13) (Fig. 1). dCHO are concentrated from sea ice DOC by dialysis (>8 kDa), with subsequent treatment allowing the definition of four subcomponents of the total dCHO pool: (i) dissolved uronic acids (dUA), produced by ice diatoms and ice bacteria (14-16), that confer strong cross-linkages between polymer chains (8), forming low solubility EPS complexes w...

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Broad-scale predictability of carbohydrates and exopolymers in Antarctic and Arctic sea ice

Underwood

Aslam

Michel

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…The increasing trend of sea ice increases nutrients input (e.g., iron or micronutrients), which will lead to phytoplankton blooms in spring and summer. In addition, phytoplankton tends to bloom in marginal sea ice regions in the coastal ocean of the SO [46][47][48][49]. Therefore, increasing sea ice extent and coverage in KGI is a likely trigger for increased phytoplankton blooms.…”

Section: Factors On Phytoplankton Bloom In Kgimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This shallow mixed layer increases the probability for phytoplankton to absorb light energy. In addition, sea ice melt brings nutrients for algal growth [46][47][48][49]. The increasing trend of sea ice increases nutrients input (e.g., iron or micronutrients), which will lead to phytoplankton blooms in spring and summer.…”

Section: Factors On Phytoplankton Bloom In Kgimentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluorescence-Based Approach to Estimate the Chlorophyll-A Concentration of a Phytoplankton Bloom in Ardley Cove (Antarctica)

Zeng

Fischer

et al. 2017

Remote Sensing

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Abstract:A phytoplankton bloom occurred in Ardley Cove, King George Island in January 2016, during which maximum chlorophyll-a reached 9.87 mg/m 3 . Records show that blooms have previously not occurred in this area prior to 2010 and the average chlorophyll-a concentration between 1991 and 2009 was less than 2 mg/m 3 . Given the lack of in situ measurements and the poor performance of satellite algorithms in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters, we validate and assess several chlorophyll-a algorithms and apply an improved baseline fluorescence approach to examine this bloom event. In situ water properties including in vivo fluorescence, water leaving radiance, and solar irradiance were collected to evaluate satellite algorithms and characterize chlorophyll-a concentration, as well as dominant phytoplankton groups. The results validated the nFLH fluorescence baseline approach, resulting in a good agreement at this high latitude, high chlorophyll-a region with correlation at 59.46%. The dominant phytoplankton group within the bloom was micro-phytoplankton, occupying 79.58% of the total phytoplankton community. Increasing sea ice coverage and sea ice concentration are likely responsible for increasing phytoplankton blooms in the recent decade. Given the profound influence of climate change on sea-ice and phytoplankton dynamics in the region, it is imperative to develop accurate methods of estimating the spatial distribution and concentrations of the increasing occurrence of bloom events.

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“…In some marine ecosystems a shift from larger to smaller phyto-and zooplankton organisms (Moline et al 2004;Hays et al 2005) with cascading effects on higher trophic levels (Montes-Hugo et al 2009) and even on the abyssal benthos is observed or expected (Smith et al 2008). In polar areas, warming might shift species composition and functional biodiversity (e.g., via reduced ventilation of the deep-sea or melting of sea-ice alter), which potentially alters primary production as well as particle flux to the sea-bed, and thereby destructs essentially important habitats (Boetius et al 2013;Gutt et al 2015).…”

Section: Range Shifts Alter Regional Marine Diversity Under Altered Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change: Warming Impacts on Marine Biodiversity

Hillebrand

Brey

Gutt

et al. 2017

Handbook on Marine Environment Protection

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Export of Algal Biomass from the Melting Arctic Sea Ice

Cited by 373 publications

References 45 publications

Broad-scale predictability of carbohydrates and exopolymers in Antarctic and Arctic sea ice

Broad-scale predictability of carbohydrates and exopolymers in Antarctic and Arctic sea ice

Fluorescence-Based Approach to Estimate the Chlorophyll-A Concentration of a Phytoplankton Bloom in Ardley Cove (Antarctica)

Climate Change: Warming Impacts on Marine Biodiversity

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