Microbial communities from the sea ice and adjacent water column at the time of ice melting in the northwestern part of the Weddell Sea

• Main Authors: Mathot, S., Becquevort, S., Lancelot, C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: Ice melting; Sea ice; PSW; Weddell Sea; Weddell
• Online Access: https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/121853.pdf

Microbial composition and potential metabolic activity of its autotrophic compartment were measured in December 1988 in several micro-environments that characterise the North-West Sector of the marginal area of the Weddell Sea; infiltration and band assemblages of ice floes and adjacent waters were investigated. At the time of ice melting, a shift from a diatom dominated population (ice) to a flagellate dominated population (water column) was observed. This shift was not due to an "inability' of the ice-diatoms to grow in the water column. Macrograzing and/or sedimentation are possible causes of the disappearance of diatoms during ice melting. The remaining small autotrophic forms released by the ice would constitute a significant seeding stock for the growth of ice-edge blooms.