The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Bodil A. Bluhm, Markus A. Janout, Seth L. Danielson, Ingrid Ellingsen, Maria Gavrilo, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, Russell R. Hopcroft, Katrin B. Iken, Randi B. Ingvaldsen, Lis L. Jørgensen, Ksenia N. Kosobokova, Ron Kwok, Igor V. Polyakov, Paul E. Renaud, Eddy C. Carmack
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020
• Subjects: biological communities; boundary current; climate change; connectivity; continental slopes; pan-Arctic; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation; geographical distribution; QH1-199.5; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Pacific; Climate change; Sea ice; Zooplankton
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.544386; https://doaj.org/article/1040dbbc96d3470aaebc7ed427e6e678

Continental slopes – steep regions between the shelf break and abyssal ocean – play key roles in the climatology and ecology of the Arctic Ocean. Here, through review and synthesis, we find that the narrow slope regions contribute to ecosystem functioning disproportionately to the size of the habitat area (∼6% of total Arctic Ocean area). Driven by inflows of sub-Arctic waters and steered by topography, boundary currents transport boreal properties and particle loads from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans along-slope, thus creating both along and cross-slope connectivity gradients in water mass properties and biomass. Drainage of dense, saline shelf water and material within these, and contributions of river and meltwater also shape the characteristics of the slope domain. These and other properties led us to distinguish upper and lower slope domains; the upper slope (shelf break to ∼800 m) is characterized by stronger currents, warmer sub-surface temperatures, and higher biomass across several trophic levels (especially near inflow areas). In contrast, the lower slope has slower-moving currents, is cooler, and exhibits lower vertical carbon flux and biomass. Distinct zonation of zooplankton, benthic and fish communities result from these differences. Slopes display varying levels of system connectivity: (1) along-slope through property and material transport in boundary currents, (2) cross-slope through upwelling of warm and nutrient rich water and down-welling of dense water and organic rich matter, and (3) vertically through shear and mixing. Slope dynamics also generate separating functions through (1) along-slope and across-slope fronts concentrating biological activity, and (2) vertical gradients in the water column and at the seafloor that maintain distinct physical structure and community turnover. At the upper slope, climatic change is manifested in sea-ice retreat, increased heat and mass transport by sub-Arctic inflows, surface warming, and altered vertical stratification, while the lower slope has yet ...