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。本研究旨在探讨巴伦支海浮游食物网与海冰条件变化之间的关系。在巴伦支海紧密耦合的食物网中，微型浮游动物（MZP；大小为20 - 200um）被认为是比大型桡足类动物更重要的食草动物，它将集中研究其作用，并将解决以下问题：1。浮游植物和MZP常绿种群的空间分布对海冰覆盖和海温变化的响应是什么？2. 不同的水团和冰盖是否决定了巴伦支海MZP的分类组成？3. 在不同的海温/海冰条件下，MZP使用初级产品的能力是什么？4. 在不同的冰/海温度/水华组合下，异养原生生物在远洋桡足动物饮食中的相对重要性是什么？为了解决这些问题，pi计划在三年内在巴伦支海进行五次研究巡航，以捕捉微生物分布和动态的季节性和年际变化。利用拖曳式高分辨率浮游生物调查系统，将获得浮游植物和MZP水平和垂直分布的详细数据。这些数据将与水文（冰盖、海水温度、分层）、水化学和其他生物变量有关。该项目将直接涉及一名博士后研究员、两名研究生和一所城市少数民族院校的几名本科生。此外，项目小组还包括一名专业的科学教育工作者，他将协调7至12年级课程材料的制作和分发，并举办教师讲习班。

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.