The adaptation of Arctic phytoplankton to low light and salinity in Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen)

The basic environmental variables and adaptability of phytoplankton communities to low light and salinity were studied using incubation experiments in Kongsfjorden, a high Arctic fjord of Spitsbergen, in late summer 2006. Chlorophylla concentrations were steady or decreased slightly in darkness afte...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shikai, CUI, Jianfeng, HE, Peimin, HE, Fang, Zhang, Ling, LIN, Yuxin, MA
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Subjects:
Fauna
Fisheries
Space
Arctic
Advances in Polar Science
Kongsfjord*
Kongsfjorden
Phytoplankton
Polar Science
Spitsbergen
Online Access:http://library.arcticportal.org/1686/
http://journal.polar.gov.cn/EN/article/downloadArticleFile.do?attachType=PDF&id=10115
Description
Summary:The basic environmental variables and adaptability of phytoplankton communities to low light and salinity were studied using incubation experiments in Kongsfjorden, a high Arctic fjord of Spitsbergen, in late summer 2006. Chlorophylla concentrations were steady or decreased slightly in darkness after one day or one week incubation. Chlorophyll aconcentrations showed an initial decline when exposed to natural light after one week incubation in darkness, and then increased significantly. In a salinity experiment, the maximal growth rate was observed at a dilution ratio of 10%, however, higher dilution ratios (=40%) had an obvious negative effect on phytoplankton growth. We suggest that the phytoplankton communities in fjords in late summer are darkness adapted, and the inflow of glacial melt water is favorable for phytoplankton growth in the outer fjords where the influence of freshwater is limited.

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