Impacts of Climate Change and Ice Conditions on Microbial Food Web Dynamics in the Barents Sea

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。这项研究旨在研究巴伦支海的浮游生物食物网和不断变化的海冰条件之间的关系。它将侧重于微型浮游动物（MZP;大小为20 - 200微米）的作用，在巴伦支海紧密耦合的食物网中，它们被认为是比大型桡足类更重要的食草动物，并将解决以下问题：1。浮游植物和MZP现存量的空间分布如何响应冰盖和海水温度的变化？2.不同的水团和冰盖决定了巴伦支海MZP的分类组成吗？3. MZP在不同海水温度/冰况下使用初级生产的能力如何？4.在不同的冰/海水温度/水华组合下，浮游桡足类食物中异养原生生物的相对重要性是什么？研究所建议在三年内在巴伦支海进行五次研究航行，以捕捉微生物分布和动态的季节性和年际变化，从而解决这些问题。将使用拖曳式高分辨率浮游生物调查系统获得浮游植物和MZP水平和垂直分布的详细数据。这些数据将涉及水文学（冰盖、海水温度、分层）、水化学和其他生物变量。该计划将直接涉及一名博士后研究员，两名研究生和几名本科生在城市，少数民族服务机构。此外，该项目小组包括一名专业科学教育工作者，他将协调7-12年级课程材料的制作和分发以及教师讲习班的举办。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009(Public Law 111-5).This study aims to examine the relationships between the planktonic food web of the Barents Sea and changing sea-ice conditions. It would focus on the role of microzooplankton (MZP; 20 - 200 um in size), which have been suggested to be more important herbivores than the larger copepods in the tightly coupled food web of the Barents Sea, and would address the following questions: 1. What is the spatial distribution of phytoplankton and MZP standing stocks in response to the change in ice cover and sea temperature? 2. Do distinct water masses and ice cover determine the taxonomic composition of MZP in the Barents Sea? 3. What is the capacity of MZP to use primary production under different sea temperature/ice conditions? 4. What is the relative importance of heterotrophic protists in pelagic copepod diet under different ice/sea temperature/bloom combinations? The PIs propose to address these questions by conducting five research cruises in the Barents Sea over three years to capture seasonal and interannual variability in microbial distribution and dynamics. Detailed data will be obtained on horizontal and vertical distributions of phytoplankton and MZP using a towed, high-resolution plankton survey system. These data will be related to hydrographic (ice cover, sea temperature, stratification), hydrochemical, and other biological variables. The program will directly involve a postdoctoral researcher, two graduate students, and several undergraduates at an urban, minority-serving institution. In addition, the project team includes a professional science educator who will coordinate the production and dissemination of curriculum materials for grades 7-12 and the conduct of teacher workshops.