Ice edge benthic communities in a changing climate

Sea ice is a dominant feature of the Arctic, directly or indirectly mediating many processes of Arctic marine ecosystems. Communities of macrofaunal invertebrates living on the sea bottom in the Barents Sea appear to have greater biomass at the ice edge than in adjacent and otherwise similar areas in predominantly open water or quasi-permanently ice covered areas. To verify this hypothesis, quantitative samples were collected of benthic fauna and sediment characteristics along several transects in the Barents Sea as part of a collaborative Norwegian-Russian expedition in 2003.

Combining these data with information on the export of organic-rich particulate material from the water column to the sea bottom from previous Norwegian research programs, we endeavor to understand the linkages between pelagic and benthic ecosystems at the ice edge. This knowledge will provide a basis for assessing the possible consequences of climate change on the ecosystems of the Barents Sea, and support the sustainable development and management of natural and socioeconomic resources such as fisheries.

Financed by the Norwegian Research Council Cooperation Programme with Russia Project# 152798/730: Life at the edge - Benthic communities at the Barents Sea ice edge in a changing climate (BASICC).

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