Shine a light : under-ice light and its ecological implications in a changing Arctic Ocean

This study was supported by the Changing Arctic Ocean projects EcoLight (03V01465), Arctic PRIZE (NE/P00573X/1; NE/P005721/1), Diatom-ARCTIC (NE/R012849/1; 03F0810A), MiMeMo (NE/R012679/1), CHASE, Peanuts (NE/R012636/1) and Diapod (NE/P005985/1) jointly funded by the UKRI Natural Environment Researc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio
Main Authors: Castellani, Giulia, Veyssière, Gaëlle, Karcher, Michael, Stroeve, Julienne, Banas, S. Neil, Bouman, A. Heather, Brierley, S. Andrew, Connan, Stacey, Cottier, Finlo, Große, Fabian, Hobbs, Laura, Katlein, Christian, Light, Bonnie, McKee, David, Orkney, Andrew, Proud, Roland, Schourup-Kristensen, Vibe
Other Authors: NERC, University of St Andrews. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology Scotland, University of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews. Pelagic Ecology Research Group, University of St Andrews. Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews. School of Biology
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2021
Subjects:
Arctic ecosystem
Arctic Ocean
Light transmission
Phytoplankton
Primary production
Transmission Phytoplankton Primary production
GC Oceanography
3rd-NDAS
SDG 13 - Climate Action
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
GC
Arctic
Climate change
ice algae
Sea ice
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10023/24414
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01662-3
Description
Summary:This study was supported by the Changing Arctic Ocean projects EcoLight (03V01465), Arctic PRIZE (NE/P00573X/1; NE/P005721/1), Diatom-ARCTIC (NE/R012849/1; 03F0810A), MiMeMo (NE/R012679/1), CHASE, Peanuts (NE/R012636/1) and Diapod (NE/P005985/1) jointly funded by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). VSK was funded by the FRontiers in Arctic marine Monitoring program (FRAM). Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. The Arctic marine ecosystem is shaped by the seasonality of the solar cycle, spanning from 24-h light at the sea surface in summer to 24-h darkness in winter. The amount of light available for under-ice ecosystems is the result of different physical and biological processes that affect its path through atmosphere, snow, sea ice and water. In this article, we review the present state of knowledge of the abiotic (clouds, sea ice, snow, suspended matter) and biotic (sea ice algae and phytoplankton) controls on the underwater light field. We focus on how the available light affects the seasonal cycle of primary production (sympagic and pelagic) and discuss the sensitivity of ecosystems to changes in the light field based on model simulations. Lastly, we discuss predicted future changes in under-ice light as a consequence of climate change and their potential ecological implications, with the aim of providing a guide for future research. Peer reviewed

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