Effects of Food Supply Changes to Arctic Benthic Communities

In Arctic marine ecosystems, primary production is partitioned between ice algae and phytoplankton. Reduced thickness and extent of sea ice associated with climatic shifts will likely lead to changes in the relative proportions of these two components to total primary productivity. This study investigates whether there are differences in the digestibility of ice algae and phytoplankton-derived organic matter to Arctic benthos.

Digestibility includes three components, all of which are experimentally tested: 1) selection; 2) absorption; and 3) assimilation.

In a cooperative program with U.S. researchers, the main hypothesis is tested in field and laboratory experiments carried out simultaneously in Svalbard and in northern Alaska.

Financed by the Norwegian Research Council U.S.–Norway Cooperation Framework: Project #151815-720, “Digestibility of ice algae and phytoplankton: The potential impacts of changing food supply to the arctic benthos”. Additional funding from U.S. National Science Foundation, for participation of American collaborators.

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