GEG 3107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Arctic Ocean, Ross Sea, Terrestrial Ecosystem
5 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Much smaller range of temperatures than in the terrestrial ecosystem. Ice is a major factor, and varies seasonally. As the sea water freezes salt is pushed out so the salinity of the surface water changes significantly as the sea ice freezes (salinity (cid:313)) and melts (salinity (cid:315)) The primary productivity of the arctic ocean is low relative to the rest of the world"s oceans, due to low light levels and lack of nutrients. Antarctic coastal & inshore waters are highly productive (comparable to hawai"i and subtropical areas), but in half the time. In other places near antarctica the productivity is quite low. Graph of chlorophyll a concentrations ~ phytoplankton density. Lots of individuals, but concentrated in dense groups. Species (and people) are adapted to the cold. Ross sea: right to left = lower to higher trophic levels. Most important zoo-plankton are krill, and are a staple for marine mammals, fish, etc.
