Contrasting plankton diversity and interactions with organic matter flux in Arctic fjord systems subject differential climatic forcing mechanisms along the coast of Svalbard 2017

Contrasting plankton diversity and interactions with organic matter flux in Arctic fjord systems subject differential climatic forcing mechanisms along the coast of Svalbard 2017

The effects of global climate change are particularly pronounced in the Arctic and yield fundamental environmental changes as a consequence. The rising temperature causes higher water temperatures in summer and especially for melting of Arctic glaciers, the freshwater input inevitably leads to changes in Arctic fjord systems. Therefore, the proposed study has two main objectives to address: (1) change in the biological diversity of the plankton communities (zoo-, phyto- and bacterioplankton) along salinity and temperature gradients in Arctic fjords, and (2) the potential occurrence of toxic phytoplankton species in the Svalbard fjords due to the changing climatic conditions. Accordingly, 5 different fjord systems in the north and west of Svalbard will be studied (van Mijenfjorden, Wijdefjorden, Woodfjorden, Kongsfjorden, Isfjorden); of those only Kongsfjorden and Issfjorden are relative good studied. However, these fjords are differentially strongly influenced by Arctic and Atlantic water and differ further in their size, the influx of glacial freshwater and the annual ice-cover. Detecting and analyzing temporal and spatial phytoplankton.

PI: Uwe John

  • Other :Uni Oslo Bente Edvardsen, Norwegian Polar Institute (Dr. Philipp Assmy) and the University Centre in Svalbard (Dr. Tove Gabrilelsen)
  • AWI : Allan Cembella, Nancy Kühne, Sylke Wohlrab, uwe john, Sabrina Kalita, Marius Kemper. Uni Oldenburg : Rohan Henkel, Daniela Voss. Uni Salzburg : Philipp Wenta

Fieldwork period: 28.07-2017 – 18.08.2017

Fieldwork site: North and West Spitzbergen (van Mijenfjorden, Wijdefjorden, Woodfjorden, Kongsfjorden, Isfjorden)

  • Coordinates first station: Latitude: 77°35 ‘N; Longitude: 13°10 ‘E at van Mijenfjorden
  • Coordinates last station: Latitude: 78°40 ‘N; Longitude: 16°30 ‘E at Isfjorden

Link to Isaaffik website

 
Fieldwork summary/photo blog
Link to project summary report