Physical oceanography in Potter Cove during 2011 to 2013 ...

• Main Authors: Deregibus, Dolores, Quartino, Maria Liliana, Campana, Gabriela L, Momo, Fernando, Wiencke, Christian, Zacher, Katharina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2016
• Subjects: Impact of climate induced glacier melt on marine coastal systems, Antarctica IMCOAST/IMCONet; Dolores; Potter Cove; South Shetland Islands; Wiencke; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.869350; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.869350

In Potter Cove, Antarctica, newly ice-free areas appeared due to glacial retreat. Simultaneously, the inflow of sediment increased, reducing underwater photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm). The aim of this study was to determine the photosynthetic characteristics of two macroalgal species colonizing three newly ice-free areas, A1, A2 and A3, with increasing degree of glacial influence from A1 to A3. Turbidity, salinity and temperature were measured, and light attenuation coefficients (Kd) calculated and considered as a proxy for glacial sediment input. The lower depth distribution of the red alga Palmaria decipiens and the brown alga Himantothallus grandifolius was 10 m in A3, 20 m in A2 and 30 m in A1. Both species were then collected, at 5 and 10 m at all areas. Photosynthetic parameters and the daily metabolic carbon balance (CB) were determined. Kd was significantly higher in A3 compared with A1 and A2. The CB of P. decipiens was significantly higher in A1 followed by A2 and A3, and ... : Supplement to: Deregibus, Dolores; Quartino, Maria Liliana; Campana, Gabriela L; Momo, Fernando; Wiencke, Christian; Zacher, Katharina (2016): Photosynthetic light requirements and vertical distribution of macroalgae in newly ice-free areas in Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 39(1), 153-166 ...