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Short-term variations in particulate matter flux in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2004

Mauro Fabiano
Affiliation:
Cattedra di Ecologia, Università di Ancona, Vie Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Mariachiara Chiantore
Affiliation:
Istituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, Corso Rainusso 14, 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (Ge), Italy
Paolo Povero
Affiliation:
Istituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, Corso Rainusso 14, 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (Ge), Italy
Riccardo Cattaneo-Vietti
Affiliation:
Istituto di Zoologia, Università di Genova, Via Balbi 5, Genova, Italy
Antonio Pusceddu
Affiliation:
Istituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, Corso Rainusso 14, 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (Ge), Italy
Cristina Misic
Affiliation:
Istituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, Corso Rainusso 14, 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (Ge), Italy
Giancarlo Albertelli
Affiliation:
Istituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, Corso Rainusso 14, 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (Ge), Italy

Abstract

As part of the Ross Sea Marginal Ice Zone Ecology Project (ROSSMIZE) the summer organic matter flux through the water column was measured at 40 m depth in Terra Nova Bay. Water samples and material from a sediment trap on the sea-bottom were analysed for their biochemical composition. A close coupling between biochemical composition of the organic matter in the water column and the material collected in the sediment trap was found, resulting from complex interactions between physical and biological processes. The physical processes are related to break-up and melting of the ice cover and occur mainly in the early summer season, whilst biological processes play a key role in mid summer and, from the evidence from faecal pellets, are related to the primary production and consumption processes.

Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1997

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