Author(s): S. Werner; Klaus Meiners; Henrike Schunemann
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Copepods (e. g. Tisbe, Halectinosoma, Cyclopina) are a major group of the sympagic meiofauna. Highest abundances are often observed in the bottom part of the ice and in the water layer directly below the ice, indicating most favourable living conditions there. During the expedition ARK XVI/2 (August 2000) with the icebreaker RV “Polarstern” to the Greenland Sea and Fram Strait (Arctic), whole sea-ice cores and under-ice water samples down to 5 m depth were studied for species diversity, abundance and vertical distribution of sympagic copepods. Although the copepods occurred in much higher concentrations in the ice, they were also found in considerable numbers in the under-ice water layer, indicating that either active migration or passive transportation, e. g. by flushing meltwater in summer, between the two systems takes place. In this paper, results of two selected stations will be presented and the possible role of migrating sympagic copepods for cryo-pelagic coupling processes, e. g. transfer of organic matter through feeding activity, will be discussed.
Year: 2002