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

在整个世界海洋中，沿海地区占主导地位的生物 生产;然而，南方生物过程的知识 海洋主要来源于对环极公海的研究。 南极沿海地区的生态系统动态几乎是未知的。 目前的目标是集中在北方杰拉希海峡， 将详细研究沿海生态系统过程。 该部分 RACER（南极海岸生态系统速率研究）将研究 包括磷虾在内的浮游动物的发育、生长和生产力。 具体的新目标是确定身体循环，居住 时间和人口的分散;导致每年 磷虾产卵; 3个主要鱼种的生长和发育 （Euphausia superba，Calanoides acutus and Metridia gerlachei）; 碳和氮通过大型浮游动物。 研究将包括 使用与实时地转海洋观测系统有关的拉格朗日漂流物、浮游动物网和船上 实验室实验 主要分析方法包括 拉格朗日流和扩散率的计算，队列分析 和浮游动物生产的大小依赖模型。 生物动力 北方Gerlache海峡的过程可能是许多 南极洲的近岸海洋环境 因此，这项研究可能 为南极海岸的功能提供了新的见解 生态系统

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.