Polar Biol �2001) 24: 486±496 DOI 10.1007/s003000100243 ORIGINAL PAPER

• Main Authors: David N. Thomas, Hilary Kennedy, Gerhard Kattner, Dieter Gerdes, Carl Gough, Gerhard S. Dieckmann, C. Gough
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2001
• Subjects: Larsen Ice Shelf; Riiser-Larsen; Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf; Ice Shelf; Riiser Larsen Ice Shelf
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.174.2874; http://www.bangor.ac.uk/%7Eoss102/ThomasETAL_2001.pdf

Abstract An array of four sediment traps and one current meter was deployed under a well-developed platelet layer for 15 days in the Drescher Inlet in the Riiser Larsen ice shelf, in February 1998. Traps were deployed at 10 m �just under the platelet layer), 112 m �above the thermocline), 230 m �below thermocline) and 360 m �close to sea ¯oor). There was a substantial ¯ux of particulate organic material out of the platelet layer, although higher amounts were collected in the traps either side of the thermocline. Material collected was predominantly composed of faecal pellets containing diatom species growing within the platelet layer. The size classes of these pellets suggest they derive from protists grazing rather than from larger metazoans. Sediment trap material was analysed for particulate organic carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus �POC/PON/POP) and d 13 C POC �carbon isotopic composition of POC). These were compared with organic matter in the overlying platelet layer and the water column. In turn, the biogeochemistry of the platelet layer and water column was investigated and the organic matter characteristics related to inorganic nutrients �nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, silicate, phosphate), dissolved organic carbon/nitrogen �DOC/DON), pH, dissolved inorganic carbon �DIC), oxygen and d 13 C DIC �carbon isotopic composition dissolved inorganic carbon). This paper presents results of the Midterm Symposium of the