Ice algal photosynthesis at Resolute and Saqvaqjuac in the Canadian Arctic
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more
Also appears in:Nihoul, J.C.J.; Djenidi, S. (1991). Ice covered seas and ice edges: Physical, chemical and biological processes and interactions - Proceedings of the 22th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics. Journal of Marine Systems, 2. Elsevier Science Publishers: Amsterdam. 520 pp., more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Bergmann, M.A.
- Welch, H.E.
- Butler-Walker, J.E.
- Siferd, T.D.
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| Abstract |
Subice algal photosynthesis-irradiance experiments were conducted in 1985 and 1986 at Resolute (74°N) and in 1988 at Saqvaqjuac (63°N) in the Canadian Arctic. The results were integrated with data for algal biomass, light flux and snow cover to obtain synoptic estimates of photosynthesis under a range of snow conditions. The mean seasonal light-limited rate of carbon uptake, alpha, was high (16 mg C·mg chl−1·Ein−1·m2) but much lower (alpha = 3) over shallow water, and intermediate (alpha = 8) over deep water, at Saqvaqjuac. This is may be the result of lower nutrient concentrations in the water column at Saqvaqjuac. Maximum daily rates of photosynthesis at Resolute ranged from less than 1 mg C·m2 beneath 40 + cm of snow, to about 0.28 g·C m−2 beneath 1 cm of snow. The average annual photosynthesis of ice algae in the Barrow Strait (Resolute) area is about 5 g C·m−2·yr−1, compared with 54 g C·m−2·yr−1 phytoplankton production. |
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