Recent New Zealand marine research in the Ross Sea Sector of Antarctica

• Main Author: George A. Knox
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Zoology Department, University of Canterbury 1986
• Subjects: Antarctic; Cape Bird; Cape Royds; McCormick; McMurdo Ice Shelf; McMurdo Sound; New Zealand; Ross Sea; Royds; Weddell; White Island; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Shelf; Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research; Polar Research; Sea ice; Weddell Seal
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=1906; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00001906/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=1906&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

The University of Canterbury Antarctic Research Unit was established in 1960 and since the summer of 1961-62 it has been responsible for the bulk of the marine ecological research in the McMurdo Sound region. The early focus of the work was on the population biology and ecology of the Weddell seal and ecological and population stidues on Adelie penguins and McCormick skuas, initially at Cape Royds and later at Cape Bird. In the summer of 1970-71 a marine biological programme was initiated at Cape Bird. Projects carried out included a preliminary general benthic survey of the area off Cape Bird, a quantitative sampling of the bottom in depths between 25 and 200m, and an oceanographic and sampling programme to a depth of 200m at a permanent station. The quantitative sampling formed part of a study of marine benthic diversity along a latitudinal gradient from Stewart Island (47°S) to Cape Bird (77°S). The results of this study are briefly discussed. A range of other studies carried out at Cape Bird are listed. In the 1976-77 summer the focus of the marine work shifted to White Island some 30km from the edge of the McMurdo Ice Shelf. The objectives of this study were to monitor water column processes and to investigate summer plankton beneath the shelf, to determine the fish population beneath the shelf and to investigate their food supply, to sample the benthic community and to study the tide-crack production cycle. The results of these studies carried out over two seasons are briefly discussed. In the summer of 1979-80 investigations were carried out through the sea-ice at the edge of the McMurdo Ice Shelf. Physical, chemical and biological parameters were measured weekly at six depths to 500m. Phytoplankton and zooplankton species composition and production were monitored throughout the season. Special studies included investigations of the population structure of the euphausiid Euphausia crystallorophias, the biology and feeding energetics of the epipelagic fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki and a preliminary study ...