Nansen Legacy Q2 ice algae biodiversity slurpgun

Study Extent

The sampling covers a transect from the central Barents Sea (76N) to the Arctic Ocean (82N) east of Svalbard, including 7 stations (P1 to P7).

Sampling

The samples were collected with a slurp gun underneath the ice. The samples were collected by swimming a given distance (the distance is given in the fieldNotes) and sucking up the ice algae attached to the sea ice in this given transect. The mix of ice sluch and ice algae was melted at 4°C. When melted, 95 mL of the sample was transferred into 100 ml brown glass bottle. The samples were preserved using an aldehyde mixture of glutaraldehyde and hexamethylenetetramine-buffered formalin at final concentrations of 0.1% and 1% respectively.

Method steps

1. All samples have been analysed at the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IOPAN). The organisms were identified and counted under an inverted microscope according to the Utermöhl method.

The Nansen Legacy is a novel and holistic Arctic research project providing integrated scientific knowledge on the rapidly changing marine climate and ecosystem. A new knowledge base is required to facilitate sustainable management of the northern Barents Sea and adjacent Arctic Basin through the 21st century. The Nansen Legacy unites about 280 researchers, students, and technicians from ten Norwegian research institutions. The research team includes interdisciplinary arctic marine expertise within physical, chemical, and biological oceanography, as well as geologists, modelers, and underwater robotic engineers. Jointly we investigate the past, present, and future climate and ecosystem of the northern Barents Sea. https://arvenetternansen.com/