Project Title

Palmer, Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): Land-shelf-ocean connectivity, ecosystem resilience and transformation in a sea-ice influenced pelagic ecosystem

Summary

Event Number:
C-019-L/P
NSF/OPP Award 1440435

Program Manager:
Dr. Karla Heidelberg

ASC POC/Implementer:
Samina Ouda / Bruce Felix / Jamee Johnson

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Oscar Schofield
oscar@marine.rutgers.edu
Rutgers University
Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Project Web Site:
http://pal.lter.net

Location

Supporting Stations: ARSV Laurence M. Gould, Palmer Station
Research Locations: Palmer Station, ARSV Laurence M Gould

Description

Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (PAL-LTER) started in 1990 to address the hypothesis that the annual sea ice cycle may be the major determinant of spatial/temporal changes in the structure and function of Antarctic marine communities. Research now includes bacteria, viruses, phytoplankton, krill, macrozooplankton, penguins, seabirds, and marine mammals. The PAL-LTER model traces the effects of changing climate and the extent, duration, and seasonality of sea ice on ecosystem composition and dynamics in the Western Antarctic Peninsula, where satellite observations over the past 35 years indicate the average duration of sea ice cover is now about 90 days shorter. Six collaborative projects on the ARSV Laurence M. Gould cruise and at Palmer Station will use moorings, numerical modeling, oceanographic cruises, and environmental sampling to address core hypotheses.

Field Season Overview

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual LTER cruise has been cancelled. One member of the phytoplankton team (C-019-L) will, however, deploy to Palmer Station. The science team plans on conducting repeated sampling with the conductivity temperature depth (CTD) rosette and the grantee-supplied bio-optical profiling instruments deployed at CTD stations. Sediment trap recovery and Swarm mooring recovery is also planned for this season.

The specific requirements of the C-019-P group include one person at Palmer Station in mid October through mid April. Field sampling and lab work for this season includes maintaining the phytoplankton Palmer time series measurements and Station E, and conducting water sampling one day per week. The science team will perform acoustic surveys two days per week. They will also perform CTD casts during these surveys. The team will perform a few simple incubation experiments using cubitainers/carboys in an outside tank on the aquarium deck.

Deploying Team Members