Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems

Abstract: Collaborative Research in IPY: Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System, a Multidisciplinary Approach - Marine Ecosystems. A profound transformation in ecosystem structure and function is occurring in coastal waters of the western Weddell Sea, with the collapse of the Lar...

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Main Author: Vernet, Maria
Format: Dataset
Language:unknown
Published: IEDA: US Antarctic Program Data Center 2014
Subjects:
IPY
Online Access:http://get.iedadata.org/metadata/iso/600073
id dataone:http://get.iedadata.org/metadata/iso/600073
record_format openpolar
spelling dataone:http://get.iedadata.org/metadata/iso/600073 2024-06-03T18:46:24+00:00 Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems Vernet, Maria ENVELOPE(-66.0,-59.0,-62.0,-70.0) BEGINDATE: 2007-09-15T00:00:00Z ENDDATE: 2014-08-31T00:00:00Z 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z http://get.iedadata.org/metadata/iso/600073 unknown IEDA: US Antarctic Program Data Center Araon1304 NBP1001 NBP1203 Antarctic Integrated System Science Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems LARISSA Biology Physical Oceanography Antarctica Southern Ocean Biosphere Oceans Antarctic Peninsula Larsen B Ice Shelf Weddell Sea US Antarctic Program Data Center (USAP-DC) Dataset 2014 dataone:urn:node:IEDA_USAP 2024-06-03T18:11:58Z Abstract: Collaborative Research in IPY: Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System, a Multidisciplinary Approach - Marine Ecosystems. A profound transformation in ecosystem structure and function is occurring in coastal waters of the western Weddell Sea, with the collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf. This transformation appears to be yielding a redistribution of energy flow between chemoautotrophic and photosynthetic production, and to be causing the rapid demise of the extraordinary seep ecosystem discovered beneath the ice shelf. This event provides an ideal opportunity to examine fundamental aspects of ecosystem transition associated with climate change. We propose to test the following hypotheses to elucidate the transformations occurring in marine ecosystems as a consequence of the Larsen B collapse: (1) The biogeographic isolation and sub-ice shelf setting of the Larsen B seep has led to novel habitat characteristics, chemoautotrophically dependent taxa and functional adaptations. (2) Benthic communities beneath the former Larsen B ice shelf are fundamentally different from assemblages at similar depths in the Weddell sea-ice zone, and resemble oligotrophic deep-sea communities. Larsen B assemblages are undergoing rapid change. (3) The previously dark, oligotrophic waters of the Larsen B embayment now support a thriving phototrophic community, with production rates and phytoplankton composition similar to other productive areas of the Weddell Sea. To document rapid changes occurring in the Larsen B ecosystem, we will use a remotely operated vehicle, shipboard samplers, and moored sediment traps. We will characterize microbial, macrofaunal and megafaunal components of the seep community; evaluate patterns of surface productivity, export flux, and benthic faunal composition in areas previously covered by the ice shelf, and compare these areas to the open sea-ice zone. These changes will be placed within the geological, glaciological and climatological context that led to ice-shelf retreat, through companion research projects funded in concert with this effort. Together these projects will help predict the likely consequences of ice-shelf collapse to marine ecosystems in other regions of Antarctica vulnerable to climate change. The research features international collaborators from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. The broader impacts include participation of a science writer; broadcast of science segments by members of the Jim Lehrer News Hour (Public Broadcasting System); material for summer courses in environmental change; mentoring of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; and showcasing scientific activities and findings to students and public through podcasts. Dataset Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Ice Shelf IPY Larsen Ice Shelf Sea ice Southern Ocean Weddell Sea IEDA: US Antarctic Program Data Center (via DataONE) Antarctic Southern Ocean Antarctic Peninsula Weddell Sea Canada Weddell Argentina Larsen Ice Shelf ENVELOPE(-62.500,-62.500,-67.500,-67.500) ENVELOPE(-66.0,-59.0,-62.0,-70.0)
institution Open Polar
collection IEDA: US Antarctic Program Data Center (via DataONE)
op_collection_id dataone:urn:node:IEDA_USAP
language unknown
topic Araon1304
NBP1001
NBP1203
Antarctic Integrated System Science
Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems
LARISSA
Biology
Physical Oceanography
Antarctica
Southern Ocean
Biosphere
Oceans
Antarctic Peninsula
Larsen B Ice Shelf
Weddell Sea
US Antarctic Program Data Center (USAP-DC)
spellingShingle Araon1304
NBP1001
NBP1203
Antarctic Integrated System Science
Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems
LARISSA
Biology
Physical Oceanography
Antarctica
Southern Ocean
Biosphere
Oceans
Antarctic Peninsula
Larsen B Ice Shelf
Weddell Sea
US Antarctic Program Data Center (USAP-DC)
Vernet, Maria
Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems
topic_facet Araon1304
NBP1001
NBP1203
Antarctic Integrated System Science
Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems
LARISSA
Biology
Physical Oceanography
Antarctica
Southern Ocean
Biosphere
Oceans
Antarctic Peninsula
Larsen B Ice Shelf
Weddell Sea
US Antarctic Program Data Center (USAP-DC)
description Abstract: Collaborative Research in IPY: Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System, a Multidisciplinary Approach - Marine Ecosystems. A profound transformation in ecosystem structure and function is occurring in coastal waters of the western Weddell Sea, with the collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf. This transformation appears to be yielding a redistribution of energy flow between chemoautotrophic and photosynthetic production, and to be causing the rapid demise of the extraordinary seep ecosystem discovered beneath the ice shelf. This event provides an ideal opportunity to examine fundamental aspects of ecosystem transition associated with climate change. We propose to test the following hypotheses to elucidate the transformations occurring in marine ecosystems as a consequence of the Larsen B collapse: (1) The biogeographic isolation and sub-ice shelf setting of the Larsen B seep has led to novel habitat characteristics, chemoautotrophically dependent taxa and functional adaptations. (2) Benthic communities beneath the former Larsen B ice shelf are fundamentally different from assemblages at similar depths in the Weddell sea-ice zone, and resemble oligotrophic deep-sea communities. Larsen B assemblages are undergoing rapid change. (3) The previously dark, oligotrophic waters of the Larsen B embayment now support a thriving phototrophic community, with production rates and phytoplankton composition similar to other productive areas of the Weddell Sea. To document rapid changes occurring in the Larsen B ecosystem, we will use a remotely operated vehicle, shipboard samplers, and moored sediment traps. We will characterize microbial, macrofaunal and megafaunal components of the seep community; evaluate patterns of surface productivity, export flux, and benthic faunal composition in areas previously covered by the ice shelf, and compare these areas to the open sea-ice zone. These changes will be placed within the geological, glaciological and climatological context that led to ice-shelf retreat, through companion research projects funded in concert with this effort. Together these projects will help predict the likely consequences of ice-shelf collapse to marine ecosystems in other regions of Antarctica vulnerable to climate change. The research features international collaborators from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. The broader impacts include participation of a science writer; broadcast of science segments by members of the Jim Lehrer News Hour (Public Broadcasting System); material for summer courses in environmental change; mentoring of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; and showcasing scientific activities and findings to students and public through podcasts.
format Dataset
author Vernet, Maria
author_facet Vernet, Maria
author_sort Vernet, Maria
title Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems
title_short Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems
title_full Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems
title_fullStr Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems
title_full_unstemmed Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System (LARISSA) - Marine Ecosystems
title_sort abrupt environmental change in the larsen ice shelf system (larissa) - marine ecosystems
publisher IEDA: US Antarctic Program Data Center
publishDate 2014
url http://get.iedadata.org/metadata/iso/600073
op_coverage ENVELOPE(-66.0,-59.0,-62.0,-70.0)
BEGINDATE: 2007-09-15T00:00:00Z ENDDATE: 2014-08-31T00:00:00Z
long_lat ENVELOPE(-62.500,-62.500,-67.500,-67.500)
ENVELOPE(-66.0,-59.0,-62.0,-70.0)
geographic Antarctic
Southern Ocean
Antarctic Peninsula
Weddell Sea
Canada
Weddell
Argentina
Larsen Ice Shelf
geographic_facet Antarctic
Southern Ocean
Antarctic Peninsula
Weddell Sea
Canada
Weddell
Argentina
Larsen Ice Shelf
genre Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica
Ice Shelf
IPY
Larsen Ice Shelf
Sea ice
Southern Ocean
Weddell Sea
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica
Ice Shelf
IPY
Larsen Ice Shelf
Sea ice
Southern Ocean
Weddell Sea
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