RUI: Benthic Community Structure and Reproductive Patterns of Benthic Organisms

该提案是一项综合科学调查的一部分，该调查旨在研究格陵兰岛东北部附近的东北水域（NEW）冰峡的北冰洋、大气、海冰和生物特性，以获得对北极大陆架斜坡过程的综合理解。新项目的这一要素将描绘冰沼内外底栖生物群落的结构和功能。将采取抓取和拖网取样来检验底栖生物生物量和密度在冰沼内大于在冰沼外的假设。底栖生物在中上层和底栖系统之间的有机物质通量中的作用，以及在从底栖动物到更高营养水平的能量转移中的作用，是本研究的核心。

This proposal is part of an integrated scientific investigation to study the properties of the Arctic ocean, atmosphere, sea-ice and biology in the Northeast Water (NEW) Polynya, which occurs near northeastern Greenland, in order to gain an integrated understanding of Arctic shelf-slope processes. This element of the NEW program will characterize the structure and function of benthic communities inside and outside the polynya. Grab and trawl samples will be taken to test hypotheses that benthic biomass and density are greater inside compared to outside the polynya. The role of benthic organisms in the flux or organic material between pelagic and benthic systems and in the transfer of energy from the benthos to higher trophic levels is central to this study.