Project Title

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

Summary

Event Number:
C-020-N
NSF / OPP Award 2224611

Program Director:
Dr. Francisco (Paco) Moore

ASC POC/Implementer:
Samina Ouda/Bruce Felix

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Deborah Steinberg
debbies@vims.edu
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences
Gloucester Point, Virginia

Project Web Site:
http://pal.lternet.edu/

Location

Supporting Stations: RV/IB Nathaniel B. Palmer
Research Locations: Palmer Station and Western Antarctic Peninsula

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 West 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 and at Palmer Station will use moorings, numerical modeling, oceanographic cruises, and environmental sampling to address core hypotheses.

Field Season Overview

In this zooplankton component of the LTER, a team of five researchers will sail on the RV/IB Nathaniel B. Palmer (NBP) to the LTER research grid west of the Antarctic Peninsula. The team will collect data with a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) rosette and from the NBP’s hull-mounted EK60 sonar system, and each study station will consist of approximately three net tows. The team will also collect and sort live zooplankton, conduct microscope work, and preserve samples in formalin.

Deploying Team Members