The Biological Importance of Polynyas in the.?, Canadian Arctic
ABSTRACT. Polynyas are areas of open water surrounded by ice. In the C a n a e h Arctic, the largest and best known polynya is the North Water. There are also several similar, but smaller, recurring polynyas and shore lead systems. Polynyas appear tobe of critical importance to arctic marine birds a...
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| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.562.8136 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic33-2-303.pdf |
| Summary: | ABSTRACT. Polynyas are areas of open water surrounded by ice. In the C a n a e h Arctic, the largest and best known polynya is the North Water. There are also several similar, but smaller, recurring polynyas and shore lead systems. Polynyas appear tobe of critical importance to arctic marine birds and mammals for feeding, reproduction’itnd migration. Despite their obvious biological importance, most polynya areas. are threatened by extensive disturbance and possible pollution as a result of propesed offshore petrochemical exploration and year-round shipping with ice-brewg capability. However, we cannot evaluate what the effects of such disruptions mi&t be because to date we have conducted insufficient research to enable us to haye: a quantitative understanding of the critical ecological processes and balances that magl,k unique to polynya areas. It is essential that we rectify the situation because the survival of viable populations or subpopulations of several species of arctic marine birds qnd mammals may depend on polynyas. RftSUMfi. Les polynias sont des zones d‘eau libre dans la banquise. Dans le Canada arctique, le polynia le plus vaste et le mieux connu, est celui de “North Water”. |
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