RACER: Development, Growth and Production of Macrozooplankton, Including Krill

在整个世界海洋中，沿海地区主导着生物生产；然而，关于南大洋生物过程的知识主要来自对环极地公海的研究。南极沿海地区的生态系统动力学几乎是未知的。目前的目标是将重点放在Gerlache海峡北部，在那里将详细研究沿海生态系统过程。RACER(南极海岸生态系统速率研究)的这一部分将研究浮游动物的发育、生长和生产力，包括磷虾。具体的新目标是确定种群的实际循环、停留时间和分散；导致磷虾年度产卵的事件；3个主要物种(大鳞虾、尖吻甲藻和革拉克虫)的生长和发育；通过大型浮游动物的碳和氮通量。研究将包括使用与Argos有关的拉格朗日漂流物、浮游动物网和船上实验室实验。主要的分析方法将包括拉格朗日流量和分散率的计算、队列分析和浮游动物生产的大小相关模型。Gerlache海峡北部的生物动力过程可能是南极洲许多近岸海洋环境的特征。因此，这项研究可能为了解南极沿海生态系统的功能提供新的见解。

Throughout the world ocean, coastal regions dominate biological production; however, knowledge of biological processes in the Southern Ocean derives mostly from studies of the circumpolar open sea. Ecosystem dynamics of Antarctic coastal zones are virtually unknown. The present objective is to focus on the northern Gerlache Strait, where the coastal ecosystem processes will be studied in detail. This portion of RACER (Research on Antarctic Coastal Ecosystem Rates) will study the development, growth and productivity of zooplankton, including krill. Specific new objectives are to determine physical circulation, residence time and dispersion of populations; events leading up to the annual spawning of krill; growth and development of 3 principal species (Euphausia superba, Calanoides acutus and Metridia gerlachei); flux of carbon and nitrogen through macrozooplankton. Studies will include the use of ARGOS-linked Lagrangian drifters, zooplankton nets and shipboard laboratory experiments. Principal analytical methods will include computation of Lagrangian flows and dispersion rates, cohort analysis and size-dependent modelling of zooplankton production. Biodynamic processes in the northern Gerlache Strait may be characteristic of many nearshore marine environments of Antarctica. This study may therefore provide new insights into the functioning of Antarctic coastal ecosystems.