The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems
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 habita...
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ftoceanrep:oai:oceanrep.geomar.de:53020 2023-05-15T14:27:47+02:00 The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems Bluhm, Bodil A. Janout, Markus A. Danielson, Seth L. Ellingsen, Ingrid Gavrilo, Maria Grebmeier, Jacqueline M. Hopcroft, Russell R. Iken, Katrin B. Ingvaldsen, Randi B. Jørgensen, Lis L. Kosobokova, Ksenia N. Kwok, Ron Polyakov, Igor V. Renaud, Paul E. Carmack, Eddy C. 2020-11-20 text https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53020/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53020/1/Bluhm.pdf https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 en eng Frontiers https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53020/1/Bluhm.pdf Bluhm, B. A., Janout, M. A., Danielson, S. L., Ellingsen, I., Gavrilo, M., Grebmeier, J. M., Hopcroft, R. R., Iken, K. B., Ingvaldsen, R. B., Jørgensen, L. L., Kosobokova, K. N., Kwok, R., Polyakov, I. V., Renaud, P. E. and Carmack, E. C. (2020) The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems. Open Access Frontiers in Marine Science, 7 . Art.Nr. 544386. DOI 10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 <https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.544386>. doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 cc_by_4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Article PeerReviewed 2020 ftoceanrep https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 2023-04-07T15:56:45Z 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 ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice Zooplankton OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) Arctic Arctic Ocean Pacific Frontiers in Marine Science 7 |
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Open Polar |
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OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) |
op_collection_id |
ftoceanrep |
language |
English |
description |
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 ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bluhm, Bodil A. Janout, Markus A. Danielson, Seth L. Ellingsen, Ingrid Gavrilo, Maria Grebmeier, Jacqueline M. Hopcroft, Russell R. Iken, Katrin B. Ingvaldsen, Randi B. Jørgensen, Lis L. Kosobokova, Ksenia N. Kwok, Ron Polyakov, Igor V. Renaud, Paul E. Carmack, Eddy C. |
spellingShingle |
Bluhm, Bodil A. Janout, Markus A. Danielson, Seth L. Ellingsen, Ingrid Gavrilo, Maria Grebmeier, Jacqueline M. Hopcroft, Russell R. Iken, Katrin B. Ingvaldsen, Randi B. Jørgensen, Lis L. Kosobokova, Ksenia N. Kwok, Ron Polyakov, Igor V. Renaud, Paul E. Carmack, Eddy C. The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems |
author_facet |
Bluhm, Bodil A. Janout, Markus A. Danielson, Seth L. Ellingsen, Ingrid Gavrilo, Maria Grebmeier, Jacqueline M. Hopcroft, Russell R. Iken, Katrin B. Ingvaldsen, Randi B. Jørgensen, Lis L. Kosobokova, Ksenia N. Kwok, Ron Polyakov, Igor V. Renaud, Paul E. Carmack, Eddy C. |
author_sort |
Bluhm, Bodil A. |
title |
The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems |
title_short |
The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems |
title_full |
The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems |
title_fullStr |
The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems |
title_sort |
pan-arctic continental slope: sharp gradients of physical processes affect pelagic and benthic ecosystems |
publisher |
Frontiers |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53020/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53020/1/Bluhm.pdf https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Pacific |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice Zooplankton |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice Zooplankton |
op_relation |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53020/1/Bluhm.pdf Bluhm, B. A., Janout, M. A., Danielson, S. L., Ellingsen, I., Gavrilo, M., Grebmeier, J. M., Hopcroft, R. R., Iken, K. B., Ingvaldsen, R. B., Jørgensen, L. L., Kosobokova, K. N., Kwok, R., Polyakov, I. V., Renaud, P. E. and Carmack, E. C. (2020) The Pan-Arctic Continental Slope: Sharp Gradients of Physical Processes Affect Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystems. Open Access Frontiers in Marine Science, 7 . Art.Nr. 544386. DOI 10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 <https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.544386>. doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 |
op_rights |
cc_by_4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.544386 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Marine Science |
container_volume |
7 |
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1766301688987123712 |