Multiscale control of bacterial production by phytoplankton dynamics and sea ice along the western Antarctic Peninsula: A regional and decadal investigation

We present results on phytoplankton and bacterial production and related hydrographic properties collected on nine annual summer cruises along the western Antarctic Peninsula. This region is strongly influenced by interannual variations in the duration and extent of sea ice cover, necessitating a de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of marine systems 2012-09, Vol.98-99, p.26-39
Main Authors: Ducklow, Hugh W., Schofield, Oscar, Vernet, Maria, Stammerjohn, Sharon, Erickson, Matthew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antarctica
Bacteria
Bacterial production
Primary production
Sea ice
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Summary:We present results on phytoplankton and bacterial production and related hydrographic properties collected on nine annual summer cruises along the western Antarctic Peninsula. This region is strongly influenced by interannual variations in the duration and extent of sea ice cover, necessitating a decade-scale study. Our study area transitions from a nearshore region influenced by summer runoff from glaciers to an offshore, slope region dominated by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The summer bacterial assemblage is the product of seasonal warming and freshening following spring sea ice retreat and the plankton succession occurring in that evolving water mass. Bacterial production rates averaged 20mgCm−2d−1 and were a low (5%) fraction of the primary production (PP). There was significant variation in BP between regions and years, reflecting the variability in sea ice, chlorophyll and PP. Leucine incorporation was significantly correlated (r2 ranging 0.2–0.7, p
ISSN:0924-7963
1879-1573
DOI:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.03.003