Nutrient stress gradient in the bottom 5 cm of fast ice, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: McMinn, A, Skerratt, J, Trull, T, Ashworth, CM, Lizotte, M
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer-Verlag 1999
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Ecology; Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology); McMurdo Sound; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050356; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/16943

One-centimeter-scale vertical sampling of fast ice from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica reveals evidence of progressive nutrient limitation with distance above the ice/water interface. Over the bottom 6 cm photosynthetically active radiation increases by between 1.8 and 3 times, C:N increases from 6.8 to 19.8 and 13C increases from -18 to -12. Fatty acid corn position also changes with a consistent decline in polyunsaturated fatty acids and a rise in saturated fatty acids. These factors all suggest severe and progressive nutrient limitation with distance from the ice/water interface.